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

But companies don’t need to turn over anything that would be considered a trade secret or intellectual property and the bill doesn’t apply to products that are no longer being manufactured. —Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025

At the workplace, don’t include trade secrets or classified information. —Christopher Ramezan, The Conversation, 12 June 2025

The complaint argues that CAA’s trade secrets are essential to making the company — and the industry — run. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 June 2025

Use trade secrets to lock down internal know-how, copyrights for implementation, and patents where feasible. —Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

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.