trademark

American  

[treyd-mahrk] / ˈtreɪdˌmɑrk /

noun

1. any name, symbol, figure, letter, word, or mark adopted and used by a manufacturer or merchant in order to designate specific goods and to distinguish them from those manufactured or sold by others. A trademark is proprietary and is usually registered with the Patent and Trademark Office to assure its exclusive use by its owner or licensee.

2. a distinctive mark or feature particularly characteristic of or identified with a person or thing (often used attributively).

   her trademark wit and sarcasm.

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verb (used with object)

trademarks, present (3rd person singular) trademarked, past participle, past trademarking present participle

1. to stamp or otherwise place a trademark designation upon.

2. to register the trademark of.

trademark British  

/ ˈtreɪdˌmɑːk /

noun

1. the name or other symbol used to identify the goods produced by a particular manufacturer or distributed by a particular dealer and to distinguish them from products associated with competing manufacturers or dealers. A trademark that has been officially registered and is therefore legally protected is known as a Registered Trademark

2. any distinctive sign or mark of the presence of a person or animal

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verb

1. to label with a trademark

2. to register as a trademark

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have trademarked
  perfect
• has trademarked
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is trademarking
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been trademarking
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been trademarking
  perfect progressive
• am trademarking
  progressive 1st person singular
• are trademarking
  progressive
• trademarks
  singular 3rd person
• trademarking
  participle

Past

• had trademarked
  perfect
• had been trademarking
  perfect progressive
• was trademarking
  progressive singular
• were trademarking
  progressive plural
• trademarked
  participle
• trademarked
  simple

Future

• will trademark
  simple
• will have trademarked
  perfect
• will have been trademarking
  perfect progressive
• will be trademarking
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of trademark

First recorded in 1565–75; trade + mark ¹

Explanation

A trademark is a distinctive feature of something or someone, and to trademark is to brand something, especially in a legal sense. You know how a comedian often has a particular joke she's famous for? That's her trademark. A trademark is something specific to a person that can be used to identify her. The legal sense of trademark is an official representation of a business or product that only they can legally use — like the Nike swoosh or their motto "Just do it."

Example Sentences

Drag queen Pattie Gonia is asking fans for help fighting Patagonia, the popular outdoor apparel and gear company, which has sued the outspoken environmental activist for trademark infringement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

The company said in the filing that it was responding to Wylie's application to trademark Pattie Gonia as a brand, moving from simply using the persona to potentially selling products and organising events.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Fender lost an attempt to trademark the shapes of its Stratocaster and Telecaster electric guitars and Precision electric bass guitar in 2009.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Richard Nixon left the White House via the South Lawn after announcing his resignation in 1974 in the culmination of the Watergate scandal, boarding a military helicopter and giving his trademark double victory sign.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

“Bruuuuuuce!” he wheezed with forced cheer, employing his trademark frat-boyish greeting.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• brand
• label
• stamp