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

The leak is a blow for Anthropic because it risks both undermining its reputation for safety and also revealing valuable trade secrets in the pitched battle for enterprise customers.

From The Wall Street Journal

His manager showed him the folder that contained the precious trade secret, before locking it away once more.

From The Wall Street Journal

In its counterclaim, Archer denied that it had misappropriated trade secrets, induced the employee to breach their contract or interfered with Joby’s partnerships.

From The Wall Street Journal

A former Google employee accused of stealing trade secrets related to the company’s Pixel phones was indicted last week.

From The Wall Street Journal

A former Google employee accused of stealing trade secrets related to the company’s Pixel phones was indicted Thursday, adding to cases highlighting the security threats companies face in an era of rapidly evolving technology.

From The Wall Street Journal