Main Entry:

¹pro·pri·e·tary

Pronunciation:

\prə-ˈprī-ə-ˌter-ē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural pro·pri·e·tar·ies

Etymology:

Middle English propietarie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin propietarius, from Late Latin, adjective

Date:

15th century

1: one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something ; specifically : proprietor 12: 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 manufacture3: a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization