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

These include subsidies that give homegrown producers an advantage over U.S. exports; ostensible health rules that are used to keep out foreign products; and loose regulations that encourage the theft of trade secrets and other intellectual property. —Christopher Rugaber, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2025

And if your communication involves trade secrets or government intel, follow the channels designed to handle that level of sensitivity. —Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Google believes this would force the disclosure of trade secrets that would allow foreign adversaries to more easily duplicate its work, mirroring concerns that OpenAI expressed in its policy proposal. —Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025

The report provides an overview of the company's intellectual property strategy, emphasizing its reliance on patent protection and trade secrets to safeguard its technologies and potential products. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025

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.