proper noun

noun

plural proper nouns

: a noun (such as Seattle, Joyce, or Empire State Building) that designates a particular being or thing, does not take a limiting modifier, and is usually capitalized in English

called also proper name

I think I can safely say that no rational person is hubristic enough to type "Zbigniew Brzezinski" … without first checking the spelling of the name, but the number of less formidable-looking proper nouns that wind up misspelled in manuscripts … is vast.

—Benjamin Dreyer

Examples of proper noun in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For comparison, Otter returned a document with three errors related to proper nouns and place names but many more errors in punctuation. —PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2025

Zoom in: Here's the Richmond-correct way to say some of our weirdest proper nouns. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

Rev made more errors than Otter related to proper nouns (six) but was much better at capitalization and punctuation. —PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2025

Issues with proper nouns, accents and context are still being addressed by developers. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for proper noun

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown

Kids Definition

proper noun

noun

: a noun that names a particular person, place, or thing