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

The case highlights an intensifying battle over semiconductor know-how as Chinese chipmakers narrow the gap with established rivals, putting the race for top engineering talent increasingly at odds with efforts to protect trade secrets. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Meanwhile, the practice of establishing non-disclosure agreements with public officials will largely end, OpenAI said, except for a narrow set of exceptions focused on security or trade secrets. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

Compounding the problem, the exact chemical cocktails used in chip fabs are closely guarded trade secrets. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

The federal government successfully won the conviction of former Google engineer and Chinese national Linwei Ding for stealing trade secrets over a roughly year-long period without Google noticing. — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 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.