proper

PRAH-pur/ˈpɹɑ.pɚ/UKPROP-uh/ˈpɹɒp.ə(ɹ)/

22 meanings of proper

1
fittingadjective
Right or suitable for a certain use or situation.
Like picking the right key for a lock.
Wear proper shoes for hiking on rocky trails.
This is the proper tool for cutting metal.
Similarsuitable, appropriate, correct, right, fitting
Oppositewrong, incorrect, unsuitable
2
strict senseadjective
Used after a word to mean only the real or main thing it names, as in the city proper.
Like the inside of a house, not counting the yard around it.
The city proper is small, but the suburbs are large.
Tourists rarely leave the old town proper.
UsagePut it after the noun: the city proper is only the main city.
3
socially correctadjective
Correct and polite according to the usual rules of behavior.
Like following the rules of a game so everyone plays fairly.
It isn't proper to talk loudly in a library.
She always uses proper table manners at dinner.
UsagePeople often say it isn't proper to do something.
Similarpolite, decent, correct, right, conventional
Oppositeimproper, impolite, inappropriate, indecent
4
a true oneadjective
Real and good enough, the way that kind of thing should be.
Like a full, good dinner instead of a quick snack.
After days of sandwiches, we finally had a proper meal.
He wanted a proper vacation, not just a weekend.
Oppositepartial, superficial, slapdash
5
nameadjective
Naming one specific person, place, or thing, usually written with a capital letter.
Like a name tag that points to just one person.
A proper noun like Paris begins with a capital letter.
Names of people are proper nouns.
UsageMostly used in proper noun and proper name.
Oppositecommon
Note
6
adjective
Belonging only to one particular person or thing.
Like a fingerprint that belongs to only one person.
Each animal has habits proper to its own kind.
That sweet smell is proper to one rare flower.
UsageUsually used with to: habits proper to cats.
Similarparticular, specific, individual, singular, peculiar
Oppositegeneral, shared
Note

Less common meanings

7
utteradjectivecolloquial
Complete or total, often said to stress how bad something is.
By the end of the party, the kitchen was a proper mess.
He made a proper fool of himself on stage.
UsageSay a proper mess or a proper fool to mean a complete one.
Similarcomplete, total, utter, absolute, downright
8
adverbnonstandard
In the right or full way.
He cleaned the kitchen proper before the guests arrived.
You have to fix it proper, not just patch it up.
UsageSaid after a verb: do it proper. In school writing, use properly.
Similarcorrectly, right, well
Oppositebadly, wrong, incorrectly
9
adverbcolloquialIrelandUK
In a complete or total way, used to mean 'really' or 'very'.
Like saying you are 'really' tired, not just a little.
By the end of the shift I was proper tired.
It rained proper hard all afternoon.
UsageBefore a word like tired it means very: proper tired.
Similarreally, very, thoroughly, completely
Note
10
mathadjective
Used in math for something that is only a part of a bigger thing, not the whole thing.
The set {1, 2} is a proper subset of {1, 2, 3}, because it leaves out the 3.
Since 4 divides 12 but is not 12, it is a proper divisor of 12.
Similarstrict
Oppositeimproper
Note
11
adjectivedialectal
Attractive and elegant, with a pleasing look or style.
The same tyme was Moses borne, and was a propper [translating ἀστεῖος (asteîos)] childe in the sight of God, which was norisshed up in his fathers housse thre monethes.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible)
Similarhandsome, fine, elegant, attractive
Oppositeplain, unattractive
Note
12
nounobsolete
A thing kept aside and used only for one special purpose.
13
adjectivearchaic
Belonging to a person or thing itself, its very own.
a man so bold That dares do justice on my proper son
c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth,. Epilogue.”
14
noun
In church services, a prayer or text that changes with the day of the year.
15
adjective
Shown in an animal or object's true-life colors instead of the set heraldry colors.
16
adjective
In math, describing a collection that is too big to count as a set.
17
adjective
In topology, describes a continuous map where the points that land in any compact set form a compact set.
18
adjective
In math, describing a space in which every closed ball is compact.
19
adjective
In algebraic geometry, describes a map, or a shape defined by equations, that meets a strict closedness condition.
20
adjective
In math and physics, describing a value or function linked to an operator, called an eigenvalue or eigenfunction.
21
adjective
In math, describing a continuous function that maps closed sets to closed sets, where each point's preimage is compact.
22
adjective
In math, describing a variety whose only map to its base field is proper.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin proprius, which came into English through Old French and Middle English.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Proper ultimately derives from Latin proprius. en.wiktionary.org
The word passed through Old French and Middle English into modern English. en.wiktionary.org