proprietary

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'proprietary' is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically refers to something that is owned exclusively by a particular person or company. Example sentence: The company has a proprietary recipe for their famous cookies.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Confusion is worsened by the conflation between fully open access journals and hybrid journals – proprietary journals which include an option for open access for individual articles.

The Guardian

Harris initially attempted to block the move, but was told that he had no proprietary interest to his own messages.

The Guardian

The current European Union-funded academic projects to liberate protein from insects – an environmentally friendly source on all measures — will eventually result in a proprietary product that can be used as a substitute for conventional forms of meat in 'processed' items such as sausages, burgers and lasagnes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Open source products – even when commercialised, like the Android system that runs on 70% of all new smartphones – can reduce the market share of closed, proprietary products.

The Guardian - Opinion

Defence firms have lobbied successfully for offsets to remain classified as "proprietary", so they do not have to disclose their obligations.

The Economist

But the addition of Merrill brings more headaches, increasing the group's exposure to a proposed tax on wholesale funding and to proposed restrictions on proprietary trading (though some wealth-management clients draw comfort from being with a firm that is too big to fail).

The Economist

To my amazement the new software does not allow me to download e-mail attachments in Microsoft's own format, Word.Instead, I receive a message urging me to buy Office 365 Home Premium for $99.99 a year so I can read documents encoded in Microsoft's proprietary format.

The Economist

The obvious answer is because the proprietary sites charge, while the open-source versions are generally free.

The Economist

On one side are the equivalents of the fundamentalists buttoned-down types clinging to proprietary and closed computer systems.

The Economist

This certainly suits the rest of the fundamentalist camp, above all Microsoft, whose proprietary Windows operating system is Linux's most bitter rival.

The Economist

Neither can be seen in the Tbilisi courtroom at present.Michael Drury BCL Burton Copeland International counsel to David Kezerashvili, former defence minister of Georgia LondonChicago's futures exchangeSIR – The Economist resorted to a euphemism for CME's business—"proprietary clearing"—when a single word would do: monopoly ("The futures of capitalism", May 11th).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing software or technology, use "proprietary" to indicate that it is not open source and is owned by a specific entity.

Common error

Avoid using "proprietary" when you simply mean "property". "Proprietary" implies exclusive ownership and control, while "property" is a more general term.

Linguistic Context

The word "proprietary" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate exclusive ownership or control, often in a business or technological context. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and widely used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "proprietary" is an adjective signifying exclusive ownership or control, commonly employed in business, technology, and legal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use. With a strong presence in news, formal business documents, and scientific publications, "proprietary" effectively conveys the protected status of assets, information, or technologies. While "privately owned" and "exclusively controlled" offer similar meanings, "proprietary" often carries a stronger connotation of intellectual property and legal protection. Remember to distinguish "proprietary" from the general term "property" to accurately convey intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

privately owned

Emphasizes private rather than public ownership.

exclusively controlled

Highlights the exclusive control aspect of ownership.

patent protected

Focuses on the legal protection afforded by a patent.

copyrighted material

Specifies that the protection is through copyright.

trade secret

Indicates that the intellectual property is protected as a secret.

company specific

Highlights that the item is unique to a particular company.

in house

Indicates the product is developed or owned internally.

licensed technology

Focuses on the licensing aspect.

restricted access

Emphasizes limitations on who can access it.

closed source

Highlights it is not open to the public.

FAQs

How is "proprietary" used in business?

In business, "proprietary" often refers to intellectual property, such as software or a process, that is exclusively owned by a company. This gives the company a competitive advantage and the right to protect it from unauthorized use.

What is the difference between "proprietary" and "open source"?

"Proprietary" software or technology is exclusively owned and controlled, while "open source" is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute.

Which is a better strategy, using "proprietary" technology or embracing open standards?

The best strategy depends on the goals. A "proprietary strategy" can be lucrative if dominance is maintained, but risks being toppled by rivals. Open standards promote interoperability but may offer less competitive advantage.

What are examples of industries where "proprietary" information is crucial?

Industries like pharmaceuticals, software development, and finance rely heavily on "proprietary information" to maintain their competitive edge and protect their innovations.