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
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If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison for each trade secret charge and up to 20 years for obstruction of justice, along with fines of up to $250,000 per count. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026 Here, one designer offers up her easiest trade secret for making an entryway feel warmer even on the coldest days. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026 As OpenAI prepares for a potential fourth-quarter IPO and fights Elon Musk’s xAI over allegations of stealing trade secrets, CEO Sam Altman has his hands full. Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026 Nike might also assert certain requested materials are protected trade secrets, that producing them would cause undue burden, or that the scope is overbroad. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade secret

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade secret was in 1825

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Cite this Entry

“Trade secret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20secret. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

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.

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