Phrase guide

prior art

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

In most systems of patent law, all information that has been made available to the public in any form before a given date that might be relevant to a patent's claims of originality, and to which the patent application is compared to determine if it in fact describes a new invention.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: intellectual-property, law, patent-law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: state of the art

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tekniikan taso — information that has been made available to the public — see also state of the art
  • German: Stand der Technik — information that has been made available to the public — see also state of the art