proper noun

noun

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of proper noun

: a noun that designates a particular being or thing, does not take a limiting modifier, and is usually capitalized in English — called also proper name

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Recent Examples of proper noun from the Web

One was antonomasia, the usually derisive practice of describing an individual by a certain characteristic, then making it into a proper noun.

— lynda robinson, Washington Post, "‘Piercingly funny’: Tom Wolfe’s years as a Washington Post reporter," 15 May 2018
None of the proper nouns in the headlines would be familiar to most Americans, but the idiom itself is as comfortable and well-worn as your favorite yoga pants: Are the memes actually hilarious?

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "An Indian Politician Claimed Ancient Hindus Invented the Internet," 24 Apr. 2018
English isn’t widely spoken, but sign language and proper nouns go a long way, and locals will happily point you in the right direction.

— sebastian modak, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Days in Lombok, Indonesia," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proper noun.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of proper noun

15th century

in the meaning defined above

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PROPER NOUN Defined for English Language Learners

proper noun

noun

Definition of proper noun for English Language Learners

: a word or group of words (such as “Noah Webster,” “Kentucky,” or “U.S. Congress”) that is the name of a particular person, place, or thing and that usually begins with a capital letter