I. prə-ˈprī-ə-ˌter-ē noun
( plural -tar·ies )
Etymology: Middle English propietarie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin propietarius, from Late Latin, adjective
Date: 15th century
1. : one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something ; specifically : proprietor 1
2. : something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker ; specifically : a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
3. : a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization
II. adjective
Etymology: Late Latin proprietarius, from Latin proprietas property — more at property
Date: 1589
1. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a proprietor
proprietary rights
2. : used, made, or marketed by one having the exclusive legal right
a proprietary process
proprietary software
3. : privately owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization
a proprietary clinic