trade secret

American  

noun

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

---

trade secret British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of trade secret

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Stefan can't explain more about the technique they use – like the genetic research it's a trade secret.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

District Judge Pamela Chen partially denied Shkreli’s motion to dismiss the case, including ruling that the album can be considered a trade secret.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Caitlin Vogus, the deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, has been dismayed by the judge’s suggestions that Google & Co. are experts in what’s a trade secret and what isn’t.

From Slate • Oct. 25, 2023

Beyond trade secret and intellectual property allegations, Spiro also wrote that Meta is prohibited from “engaging in any crawling or scraping of Twitter’s followers or following data.”

From Seattle Times • Jul. 7, 2023

Tamie France Port-Salut made by Trappist monks at Savoy from their method that is more or less a trade secret.

From The Complete Book of Cheese by Brown, Robert Carlton