PROPRIETARY

Pronunciation (US):

• 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.

• 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)