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

Gabehart and Spire maintain Gabehart has never shared any of JGR’s proprietary data or trade secrets. —Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026

But several insiders maintain that the trade secrets criticism is overblown, noting that insurance regulators in Florida have access to most of the material denied to members of the public. —Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026

Prosecutors said in the indictment that Snapdragon SoC trade secrets had independent economic value because they were not generally known and could not be readily obtained from Company 2's competitors, who could benefit from their disclosure or use. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026

Here, one designer offers up her easiest trade secret for making an entryway feel warmer even on the coldest days. —Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 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.