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Proprietary: meaning, definitions and examples

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proprietary

 

[ prəˈpraɪəˌtɛri ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

business context

Proprietary refers to something that is owned by a specific individual or organization. This term is commonly used in relation to intellectual property, technology, and trade secrets. When a product or technology is proprietary, it means that it is not available for use by the public without permission from the owner. Proprietary rights can include patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other forms of legal protection that give a company control over its creations and innovations.

Synonyms

confidential, exclusive, private, restricted, secretive

Examples of usage

  • This software is proprietary and cannot be shared.
  • The company developed a proprietary algorithm.
  • They had proprietary knowledge about the product.
  • He signed a proprietary agreement before joining the firm.

Translations

Translations of the word "proprietary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 proprietário

🇮🇳 स्वामित्व

🇩🇪 eigen

🇮🇩 milik

🇺🇦 приватний

🇵🇱 własnościowy

🇯🇵 独自の

🇫🇷 propriétaire

🇪🇸 propietario

🇹🇷 mülk

🇰🇷 소유의

🇸🇦 ملكية

🇨🇿 vlastnický

🇸🇰 vlastnícky

🇨🇳 专有的

🇸🇮 lastniški

🇮🇸 eignar

🇰🇿 жекеменшік

🇬🇪 ჩასახლებური

🇦🇿 mülkiyyət

🇲🇽 propietario

Etymology

The word 'proprietary' originates from the Latin word 'proprietarius', which means 'owner' or 'of one's own'. It evolved into Middle English by the late 14th century, primarily referring to ownership and property rights. Over the centuries, the term has expanded, especially in the industrial era, to encompass exclusive rights in business practices, technology, and intellectual property. The usage of 'proprietary' in legal contexts became more prominent with the rise of corporate entities and the need to protect unique business methods and inventions. By the late 20th century, with the advent of software and digital products, the term gained new significance, relating to proprietary software that is owned by a company and not publicly available. Today, it plays a crucial role in discussions about innovation, competition, and the ethics of ownership in a rapidly advancing technological society.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,290 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.