a proprietary relationship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a proprietary relationship" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a relationship between two businesses that involves exclusive rights to one company's products and services. For example, "The two companies entered into a proprietary relationship, granting exclusive rights for one company's products and services to the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The Adventures of Lucky Pierre" proceeds by spinning from one porno reel to the next, with nine in all, each directed by a woman, a tutelary muse who has a proprietary relationship with Lucky Pierre.

The New York Times - Books

With a confident eye, dry humor, expansive warmth and stealth-like politics, Mr. Perezcano follows the itinerant Andrés (Harold Torres), as he makes his way to Tijuana and into the lives of a storeowner, Ela (Alicia Laguna); her helper, Cata (Sonia Couoh); and Asensio (Luis Cárdenas), a wary butcher who maintains a proprietary relationship with both women.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The two independently owned practices were recruited with the help of a medical software vendor that had a prior proprietary relationship with the practices and was knowledgeable about their IT capabilities.

BMC Health Services Research

All of us have a fiercely proprietary relationship to the twins as material.

The New Yorker

Leon Fleischer became the master of the left-hand repertory after an injury in the mid-1960's made him limit his use of his right hand, and although in recent seasons he has given recitals using both hands, he retains an almost proprietary relationship with the Ravel.

The New York Times

Historically, parenthood has often been regarded as a possessory (or proprietary) relationship.

SEP

Yet despite Mr. Harris's sentiments about black America's proprietary relationship with the genre, the blues is a form that has been detached from modern black life, an evolution that's barely addressed in the series.

The New York Times

In the process, Xerox is building stronger, more proprietary relationships with its customers.

Harvard Business Review

Robert won't disclose much more, saying its too important to keep their proprietary relationships and technology confidential.

TechCrunch

These shares entitle you to a proprietary lease, which relates your relationship to the building close to that of an investor, rather than a condo building, where you are the outright owner of your specific unit.

Huffington Post

This is a proprietary manually-curated database containing relationships from the published literature in rodents and humans.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing business partnerships, use "a proprietary relationship" to emphasize exclusive rights and benefits that each partner gains.

Common error

Avoid using "a proprietary relationship" in casual conversation or informal writing. This term is best suited for formal business, legal, or technical contexts where its specific meaning is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a proprietary relationship" functions as a noun phrase, where "proprietary" modifies "relationship". It describes a specific type of relationship characterized by ownership or exclusive control, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a proprietary relationship" describes an exclusive or ownership-based connection, commonly found in business, legal, and technological contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for formal registers. While not exceedingly common, its specific meaning makes it valuable when denoting protected or exclusive partnerships. When writing, ensure the term aligns with the intended formality and context. Consider alternatives like "exclusive connection" or "protected affiliation" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an exclusive connection

Emphasizes exclusivity rather than ownership.

a protected affiliation

Highlights the aspect of safeguarding the relationship.

a private association

Focuses on the privacy and confidentiality of the relationship.

a privileged partnership

Stresses the benefits and special treatment involved.

a dedicated alliance

Underscores commitment and focus in the relationship.

a captive arrangement

Suggests a dependency or restriction within the relationship.

a closed collaboration

Highlights the restricted access and internal nature.

a custom bond

Emphasizes the unique tailoring of the relationship.

a brand-specific link

Highlights the connection being specific to a certain brand.

an internally-held agreement

Highlights the agreement being internally held and not broadly shared.

FAQs

How can I use "a proprietary relationship" in a sentence?

You can use "a proprietary relationship" to describe a situation where one party has exclusive rights or ownership over something, such as "The company maintains "a proprietary relationship" with its patented technology".

What does "a proprietary relationship" mean?

"A proprietary relationship" signifies a connection where one party has exclusive rights or ownership, often in business, legal, or technological contexts. It implies control and protection of assets or information.

What are some alternatives to "a proprietary relationship"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "a proprietary relationship" could include "an exclusive connection", "a protected affiliation", or "a private association".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "a proprietary relationship"?

The term "a proprietary relationship" is suitable in formal settings such as business negotiations, legal documents, or when discussing technology and intellectual property. It is less appropriate for casual conversation.