PROPRIETARY
Dictionary entry overview: What does proprietary mean?
• PROPRIETARY (noun)
The noun PROPRIETARY has 1 sense:
1. an unincorporated business owned by a single person who is responsible for its liabilities and entitled to its profits
Familiarity information: PROPRIETARY used as a noun is very rare.
• PROPRIETARY (adjective)
The adjective PROPRIETARY has 1 sense:
1. protected by trademark or patent or copyright; made or produced or distributed by one having exclusive rights
Familiarity information: PROPRIETARY used as an adjective is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• PROPRIETARY (noun)
Meaning:
An unincorporated business owned by a single person who is responsible for its liabilities and entitled to its profits
Classified under:
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession
Synonyms:
proprietary; proprietorship
Hypernyms ("proprietary" is a kind of...):
ownership (the relation of an owner to the thing possessed; possession with the right to transfer possession to others)
• PROPRIETARY (adjective)
Meaning:
Protected by trademark or patent or copyright; made or produced or distributed by one having exclusive rights
Context example:
'Tylenol' is a proprietary drug of which 'acetaminophen' is the generic form
Similar:
branded ((of goods and merchandise) marked or labeled by a distinctive word or symbol indicating exclusive rights)
copyrighted ((of literary or musical or dramatic or artistic work) protected by copyright)
patented ((of devices and processes) protected by patent)
trademarked ((of goods and merchandise) labeled with proprietary (and legally registered) identification guaranteeing exclusive use)
Antonym:
nonproprietary (not protected by trademark or patent or copyright)
