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

In Florida, theft of trade secrets are considered a second or third degree felony, with the maximum punishment amounting to fifteen years in prison and a fine of $10,000. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

Each is obsessed with the other’s trade secrets and boxoffice success. —Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025

There’s not going to be any trade secrets that are going to be exchanged. —Ben Morse, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025

Yet those agreements are just as shrouded from public view, shielded by the same exemptions—FERPA, trade secrets—that were once used to justify withholding third-party NIL deals. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 Sep. 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.