What does "proprietary" mean?

1. (owned and protected) describing something that is owned by a company and cannot be used or copied by others without permission. 2. (behaving like an owner) behaving as if you own something or someone, often in a way that shows you are protective or jealous. 3. (an owner) a person who owns a business or a piece of land.

How do you use "proprietary"?

Often used before nouns like 'software', 'technology', or 'information'.

proprietary

adj. · n.

US //pɹəˈpɹaɪəˌtɛɹi// UK //pɹəpɹˈaɪətəɹi// pro·pri·etary

1 owned and protected (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Academic Law

describing something that is owned by a company and cannot be used or copied by others without permission.

relating to an owner or ownership; specifically, manufactured and sold only by the owner of the intellectual property rights.

Example

The company uses proprietary software that no other business is allowed to buy.

Example

The pharmaceutical giant maintains proprietary rights over the formula, preventing generic manufacturers from producing a cheaper version for the next decade.

Usage

Often used before nouns like 'software', 'technology', or 'information'.
- open source
- public
2 behaving like an owner (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Literary

behaving as if you own something or someone, often in a way that shows you are protective or jealous.

expressing or manifesting a sense of ownership or exclusive rights, often used to describe a person's protective attitude or physical stance.

Example

He put a proprietary arm around his daughter as the strangers approached.

Example

She watched the restoration of the old house with a proprietary interest, despite having sold the property several months earlier.
- indifferent

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3 an owner (n.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Archaic Law

a person who owns a business or a piece of land.

an individual or entity that holds legal title to a property or business.

Example

The proprietary of the estate decided to open the gardens to the public.

Example

The original charter granted the proprietary full authority over the colonial territory, including the right to collect taxes and appoint local officials.

Teacher's tip

In modern English, the noun 'proprietor' is much more common than using 'proprietary' as a noun.
- tenant
- renter

Origin

From French propriétaire, from Latin proprietārius. By surface analysis, propriety + -ary. Compare with the Latin proprietas (“property”) and proprius (“ownership”).