patente
nounCEFR B2
What does “patente” mean in English?
patent — an official right granting exclusive use of an invention
patent — an official right granting exclusive use of an invention (registrar una patente; patente tecnológica)
Example sentences
La empresa registró una patente para proteger su nueva tecnología de almacenamiento de energía.
The company registered a patent to protect its new energy storage technology.
La disputa por la patente de la vacuna llegó hasta el Tribunal Supremo después de años de litigios.
The patent dispute over the vaccine reached the Supreme Court after years of litigation.
Es patente que el equipo necesita refuerzo: los resultados de este trimestre son inaceptables.
It is obvious that the team needs reinforcement: this quarter's results are unacceptable.
How to use it
La patente (noun, feminine) means 'patent' — an official right granting exclusive use of an invention. Key collocations: registrar/solicitar una patente; patente tecnológica/farmacéutica; sistema de patentes; violar una patente; patente de corso. Distinguish from marca registrada (trademark) and derechos de autor (copyright). Also note: patente as an adjective means 'obvious/evident' (es patente que = it is obvious that).
Common mistake
Registrar/solicitar una patente (not *obtener — though used loosely). Patente as adjective = obvious (es patente que). Marca registrada = registered trademark (not patente). 'Patent pending' = patente en trámite. Patente de corso (letter of marque) is a historical fixed phrase sometimes used figuratively for 'a free hand to do as one pleases'.