1
a
: referring to one individual only
b
: belonging to one : own
c
: appointed for the liturgy of a particular day
d
: represented heraldically in natural color
2
: belonging characteristically to a species or individual : peculiar
3
chiefly dialectal
: good-looking, handsome
4
: very good : excellent
6
: strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea
the city proper
7
8
: marked by suitability, rightness, or appropriateness : fit
9
: being a mathematical subset (such as a subgroup) that does not contain all the elements of the inclusive set from which it is derived
properness
noun
1
: the parts of the Mass that vary according to the liturgical calendar
2
: the part of a missal or breviary containing the proper of the Mass and the offices proper to the holy days of the liturgical year
chiefly dialectal
: in a thorough manner : completely
Synonyms
Examples of proper in a Sentence
Adjective
It is not proper to speak that way.
The children need to learn proper behavior.
It would not be proper for you to borrow the ladder without asking first.
She is a very prim and proper young lady.
Is this the proper spelling of your name?
You need to eat a proper meal instead of junk food.
Each step must be done in the proper order.
Adverb
They beat us good and proper.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
The yardage still doesn’t do Pittsburgh’s offense the proper injustice.
—Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023
For proper care, the brand recommends hand washing the bra in cold water.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
This includes evidence of campaign need, proof of nonprofit status or proper identification of for-profit entities and administrators.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 19 Sep. 2023
Cost is still a major barrier to proper biodiversity assessment, especially for smaller suppliers, Gillon said.
—Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2023
All proper steps and protocols were followed in response to the incident, Llewellyn added.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
The lawsuit asks the court to enter a permanent injunction requiring IU Health to, among other things, update or create rules to safeguard patient information and prohibit its staff from disclosing sensitive patient information without proper patient approval.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023
The bank’s reaction to this has been dismissive, with senior leaders of indigenous nations being denied access to its AGM despite having the proper paperwork.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2023
Reece Rogers, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2023
The singers who played the couple became Treemonisha and her adoring friend, Remus, in the opera proper.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 27 July 2023
The Winner The Oberoi, Marrakech: Marrakesh, Morocco Leading the list for the second year in a row is this estate just outside Marrakesh proper, which opened just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2023
Fox owned several silos of Marvel’s characters before its acquisition by Disney in 2019 brought the movie rights to the characters back into Marvel proper.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 July 2023
Outside of Black Mirror proper, the Streamberry title Rowdy and Peanut is a reference to Cat Burglar, a short film that Charlie Brooker made for Netflix during Black Mirror's hiatus.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 16 June 2023
View full post on Instagram Fans hit the comments section big time to give the singer major propers for her looks.
—Maggie Horton, Country Living, 11 June 2023
Set in the exclusive Hidden Hills community just outside L.A. proper, The Reserve at 5727 Jed Smith is a modern Napa Valley-style ranch compound spanning 13,460 square feet.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2023
If the nuclear threat works to stop NATO support now, the Russian will use it in the future against NATO proper.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2022
Matt Jancer, Wired, 20 Nov. 2021
Another safety consideration has to do with injury risk: Wearing proper-fitting shoes can help prevent injury, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Dec. 2020
Just as there’s something to be said for proper-fitting women’s flannels, there’s also something to be said for a good pair of men’s camp pants.
—Ben Romans, Outdoor Life, 26 Nov. 2020
The port proper is connected to Market Three by a narrow cement path that wends between an overgrown empty lot known as the Mountain, a permanent black puddle the size of a swimming pool, and the port’s 20-foot-high outside wall.
—Aurora Almendral, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2020
The carriage house proper boasted a livery room and space for six large equipages.
—John Freeman Gill, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2019
Big red signs warn them of the danger to their lives at the checkpoints that divide Israel proper from the Palestinian territories.
—Batya Ungar-Sargon, The New York Review of Books, 17 June 2019
Around the globe the Jetta will be a lot of somebodies’ first proper, grown-up automobile—a chapter-of-life choice, a fork in the road.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2018
Additionally, families can opt for grander accommodations than the lodge proper by renting from Spruce Peaks’ pool of private residences and mountain cabins.
—Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Dec. 2017
See More
Adjective
If a tent’s frame and rain fly could be modeled after pterosaur wings—with the proper materials—then tents for field teams or film crews in harsh locales could better withstand windstorms that might damage the camp.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
The yardage still doesn’t do Pittsburgh’s offense the proper injustice.
—Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023
For proper care, the brand recommends hand washing the bra in cold water.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
This includes evidence of campaign need, proof of nonprofit status or proper identification of for-profit entities and administrators.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 19 Sep. 2023
Cost is still a major barrier to proper biodiversity assessment, especially for smaller suppliers, Gillon said.
—Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2023
All proper steps and protocols were followed in response to the incident, Llewellyn added.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
The lawsuit asks the court to enter a permanent injunction requiring IU Health to, among other things, update or create rules to safeguard patient information and prohibit its staff from disclosing sensitive patient information without proper patient approval.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023
The bank’s reaction to this has been dismissive, with senior leaders of indigenous nations being denied access to its AGM despite having the proper paperwork.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2023
Noun
The music subscription app is available individually or bundled with YouTube Premium, which also includes access to an ad-free experience on YouTube proper.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2023
The singers who played the couple became Treemonisha and her adoring friend, Remus, in the opera proper.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 27 July 2023
The Winner The Oberoi, Marrakech: Marrakesh, Morocco Leading the list for the second year in a row is this estate just outside Marrakesh proper, which opened just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2023
Fox owned several silos of Marvel’s characters before its acquisition by Disney in 2019 brought the movie rights to the characters back into Marvel proper.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 July 2023
Outside of Black Mirror proper, the Streamberry title Rowdy and Peanut is a reference to Cat Burglar, a short film that Charlie Brooker made for Netflix during Black Mirror's hiatus.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 16 June 2023
View full post on Instagram Fans hit the comments section big time to give the singer major propers for her looks.
—Maggie Horton, Country Living, 11 June 2023
Set in the exclusive Hidden Hills community just outside L.A. proper, The Reserve at 5727 Jed Smith is a modern Napa Valley-style ranch compound spanning 13,460 square feet.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2023
If the nuclear threat works to stop NATO support now, the Russian will use it in the future against NATO proper.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2022
Adverb
The Backpacker’s Field Manual is a well-rounded and comprehensive primer on how to select a proper-fitting pack, select a campsite, lower your physical impact on the trail, plan a backcountry menu, and learn about dozens of other topics.
—Matt Jancer, Wired, 20 Nov. 2021
Another safety consideration has to do with injury risk: Wearing proper-fitting shoes can help prevent injury, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Dec. 2020
Just as there’s something to be said for proper-fitting women’s flannels, there’s also something to be said for a good pair of men’s camp pants.
—Ben Romans, Outdoor Life, 26 Nov. 2020
The port proper is connected to Market Three by a narrow cement path that wends between an overgrown empty lot known as the Mountain, a permanent black puddle the size of a swimming pool, and the port’s 20-foot-high outside wall.
—Aurora Almendral, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2020
The carriage house proper boasted a livery room and space for six large equipages.
—John Freeman Gill, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2019
Big red signs warn them of the danger to their lives at the checkpoints that divide Israel proper from the Palestinian territories.
—Batya Ungar-Sargon, The New York Review of Books, 17 June 2019
Around the globe the Jetta will be a lot of somebodies’ first proper, grown-up automobile—a chapter-of-life choice, a fork in the road.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2018
Additionally, families can opt for grander accommodations than the lodge proper by renting from Spruce Peaks’ pool of private residences and mountain cabins.
—Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Dec. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English propre proper, own, from Anglo-French, from Latin proprius own
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of proper was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing proper
Articles Related to proper
Dictionary Entries Near proper
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proper. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
proper
adjective
prop·er
ˈpräp-ər
1
: belonging naturally to something : special
diseases proper to the tropics
2
: considered without surrounding places, things, or events
lived outside the city proper
3
a
: strictly accurate : correct
the proper way to pronounce the word
b
: obeying social rules : appropriate
the proper way to address the mayor
4
: suitable because of an essential nature or condition
proper lighting to work by
properness
noun
Legal Definition
proper
adjective
prop·er
: marked by fitness or correctness
especially
: being in accordance with established procedure, law, jurisdiction, or standards of care, fairness, and justice
argued that the shareholder was acting in bad faith and lacked a proper purpose for examining its records
properly
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on proper
Nglish: Translation of proper for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of proper for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share