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Definition of patent : 1. A document making a grant and conveyance of public lands.
2. A letter patent, or letters patent; an official document, issued by a sovereign power, conferring a right or privilege on some person or party.
3. A writing securing to an invention.
4. Appropriated or protected by letters patent; secured by official authority to the exclusive possession, control, and disposal of some person or party; patented; as, a patent right; patent medicines.
5. Open to public perusal; - said of a document conferring some right or privilege; as, letters patent. See Letters patent, under 3d Letter.
6. Open; expanded; evident; apparent; unconcealed; manifest; public; conspicuous.
7. Spreading; forming a nearly right angle with the steam or branch; as, a patent leaf.
8. The right or privilege conferred by such a document; hence, figuratively, a right, privilege, or license of the nature of a patent.
9. To grant by patent; to make the subject of a patent; to secure or protect by patent; as, to patent an invention; to patent public lands.

Synonyms:

ostensible, copyright, overt, discernible, register, trademark, conspicuous, unvarnished, unembellished, safeguard, see, apparent, observable, unpatterned, spare, licensed, patent of invention, protected, control, unsubtle, broad, patented, tangible, obvious, unornamented, evident, plain, exclude, secure, limit, transparent, glaring, seeming, controlled, free, pronounced, limited, noticeable, palpable, homely, sheer, perceptible, distinct, crystal clear, clear-cut, monopolize, visible, unmingled, unmixed, letters patent

clear, confident, steadfast, definite, decisive, incontestable, assured, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, veritable, irrefragable, decided, trusting, irrefutable, doubtless, unmistakable, convinced, positive, sure, undoubted, unequivocal, unquestionable, set, absolute, incontrovertible, certain

gaping, uncapped, uncovered, agape, unbarred, yawning, unlocked, ajar, admitting, unclosed, unstopped, bare, manifest, accessible, exposed, unobstructed, unimpeded, unplugged, unbolted, open

Usage examples:

• Citizen Sechard accepted the dangerous patent, bought the business of his master's widow with his wife's savings, and took over the plant at half its value. - "Two Poets Lost Illusions Part I", Honore de Balzac.
• It is sometimes as profitable to learn what was not done by the great ones of the earth, in spite of all their efforts, as to ponder those actual deeds which are patent to mankind. - "History of the United Netherlands, 1592-94", John Lothrop Motley.
• We read a patent medicine circular and shudder with seven diseases. - "The Crisis, Complete", Winston Churchill Last Updated: March 6, 2009.