trade secret

noun

: something (such as a formula) which has economic value to a business because it is not generally known or easily discoverable by observation and for which efforts have been made to maintain secrecy

Examples of trade secret in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of that information might involve trade secrets and other proprietary materials. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 July 2026

However, that plan seems to have hit a snag, as days before the Codex Micro appeared, Apple sued OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets to build its hardware and of poaching ex-Apple staff for confidential product details. — New Atlas, 25 July 2026

On July 10, Apple sued former vice president Tang Tan and another former employee, accusing them of taking trade secrets to OpenAI. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Apple is seeking damages and a court order that would block OpenAI from possessing or using its trade secrets. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

trade secret

noun

trade se·​cret

: a formula, process, device, or item of information used by a business that has economic value because it is not generally known or easily discovered by observation or examination and for which reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy have been made

Note: Trade secrets are a form of intellectual property. Many states have enacted laws which create an action for damages or injunctive relief against misappropriation of trade secrets by improper means. Information contained in a patent is not protected as a trade secret.