proprietary

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /prəˈpraɪ.ə.tə.ri/ or /prəˈpraɪ.ə.tri/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /prəˈprɑɪ.ə.teɪr.i/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive proprietary

Comparative more proprietary

Superlative most proprietary

1. If something is proprietary, it is of or relating to property or ownership, as proprietary rights.
2. If something is proprietary, it is of or relating to the quality of being an owner, as the proprietary class.
3. If something is proprietary, it is manufactured exclusively by the owner of intellectual property rights, as with a patent or trade secret.

   The profitability of the company is based on its many proprietary products.

   The software is proprietary

4. If something is proprietary, it is privately owned, as a proprietary lake.
5. (of a person) If someone is proprietary, that person is possessive, jealous, or territorial.

Related words

• proprietor