proprietary

7 ENTRIES FOUND:

1pro·pri·e·tary

noun \prə-ˈprī-ə-ˌter-ē\
plural pro·pri·e·tar·ies

Definition of PROPRIETARY

1
: one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something; specifically : proprietor 1
2
: something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker; specifically : a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
3
: a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization

Origin of PROPRIETARY

Middle English propietarie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin propietarius, from Late Latin, adjective (see 2proprietary)
First Known Use: 15th century

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