proper

1 of 3

adjective

prop·​er ˈprä-pər How to pronounce proper (audio)
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
5
chiefly British : utter, absolute
6
: strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea
the city proper
7
a
: strictly accurate : correct
b
archaic : virtuous, respectable
c
: strictly decorous : genteel
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

proper

2 of 3

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

proper

3 of 3

adverb

chiefly dialectal
: in a thorough manner : completely
Choose the Right Synonym for proper

fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance.

fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.

clothes suitable for camping

meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

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
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

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.

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

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