# trademark

Pronunciation: US say "TRAYD-mark" /ˈtɹeɪdmɑɹk/; say "TRAYD-mahk" UK /ˈtɹeɪdmɑːk/, AUS /ˈtɹæɪdmɐːk/

## Noun

1. A word, symbol, or phrase that identifies a particular company's product and distinguishes it from other companies' products.
   - Simple: A name or symbol that shows which company made a product.
   - _The swoosh became one of the most recognizable trademarks in sports apparel._
   - _Shoppers often choose a product because they trust the trademark on the label._
2. The feature for which a person or thing is best known; a hallmark or typical characteristic.
   - Simple: The special thing that a person or place is best known for.
   - _Razor-sharp one-liners became the late-night host's trademark._
   - _Long lines and unforgettable noodles are the tiny restaurant's trademark._
3. A word, symbol, or phrase identifying a company's product that is registered with a government agency, giving it legal protection against use by other companies.
   - Simple: A product name or symbol that a company registers with the government so no one else can use it.
   - _After the trademark was approved, the brand began adding the ® symbol to its packaging._
   - _The two companies spent years in court fighting over who owned the registered trademark._
6. Any proprietary name for a business, product, or service.
   - Simple: A name that belongs to one business and is used for its products or services.
   - _Aspirin began as a trademark before becoming a generic word in the United States._
   - _Companies police their trademarks to keep names like 'Velcro' from becoming generic._

## Adjective

4. Distinctive and characteristic of a particular person or thing; signature. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Typical of one person and easy to recognize as theirs.
   - _The chef finished the dish with his trademark drizzle of olive oil._
   - _She answered the reporters' questions with trademark calm._

## Verb

5. To register something, such as a name or logo, as a trademark.
   - Simple: To officially register a name or logo so only your company can use it.
   - _Startups often trademark their names before announcing a product._
   - _The studio trademarked the character's name to stop knockoff toys._
7. To mark or label a product with a trademark.
   - Simple: To put a company's trademark on a product.
   - _The distillery trademarks each barrel with a burned-in emblem._
   - _Manufacturers trademark their goods so retailers can verify the source._

## Origin

Formed from "trade" plus "mark".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/trademark (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).