proprietary
adj.adj. describing something that is owned by a specific person or company and cannot be used by others without permission. You often see this word when talking about software or technology that only works with one brand.
adj. relating to an owner or ownership; protected by trademark or patent. Often describes technology or information that is not shared with competitors and is restricted to a specific brand or ecosystem.
The company uses proprietary software that only their employees can access.
The manufacturer uses a proprietary charging port, meaning you cannot use standard cables from other brands.
While open-source alternatives exist, many corporations prefer proprietary systems for the dedicated support and integrated security features that a single vendor can guarantee.
From French propriétaire, from Latin proprietārius. By surface analysis, propriety + -ary. Compare with the Latin proprietas (“property”) and proprius (“ownership”).
Typically placed before the noun it modifies.