trade secret

American  

noun

1. a secret process, technique, method, etc., used to advantage in a trade, business, profession, etc.

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trade secret British  

noun

1. a secret formula, technique, process, etc, known and used to advantage by only one manufacturer

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Etymology

Origin of trade secret

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

A former software engineer at Google has been convicted of stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets for the benefit of China, the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

The jury on Thursday found EDO liable for breach of contract but decided EDO wasn’t liable for claims of trade secret violations between 2019 to 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal

Typically, he said, “confidential” information governed by a protective order refers to sensitive data like trade secrets or personal information, such as Social Security numbers and health records.

From Los Angeles Times

The prosecutors said the leak of trade secrets caused billions of dollars in losses to Samsung and South Korea’s semiconductor-driven economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Taiwanese prosecutors charged three people in August with stealing trade secrets related to 2nm chips to help Tokyo Electron, a Japanese company that makes equipment for TSMC.

From Barron's