trademark

1 of 2

noun

trade·​mark ˈtrād-ˌmärk How to pronounce trademark (audio)
1
: a device (such as a word) pointing distinctly to the origin or ownership of merchandise to which it is applied and legally reserved to the exclusive use of the owner as maker or seller
2
: a distinguishing characteristic or feature firmly associated with a person or thing
wearing his trademark bow tie and derby hat

trademark

2 of 2

verb

trademarked; trademarking; trademarks

transitive verb

: to secure trademark rights for : register the trademark of

Examples of trademark in a Sentence

Noun “Kleenex” is a registered trademark. Outspokenness has always been his trademark. Courtesy is the company's trademark.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Daft-sounding ideas and sayings are O’Leary’s trademark. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024 My Personal Information | Ad Choices FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Margie Zable Fisher, Fortune Well, 22 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit claims that some auto sears are marketed and sold with Glock’s name and logo, but that there is no evidence Glock has tried to protect its trademark from third-party manufacturers. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 Pearls, another Neeley trademark, also feature prominently. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024 Now and throughout its career, The Lone Bellow’s trademark has been its stirring, three-part vocal harmonies, which are inspired as much by classic soul music as by country and bluegrass. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 The trademark records show the owner of the mark is an LLC that cites the same address where the office of Richard Genow, who is an attorney for the Duchess, is located. CNN has reached out to Meghan’s representative seeking more information, as well as her attorney. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Almost immediately after commencing the interview, Trump launched into one of his trademark, fact-free rants. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 To create the look of renowned physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer for the big screen, his trademark hat had to be just right. Lisa Richwine, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
The sound, so iconic it is trademarked, reverberates across the trading floor again just before 4 pm ET, when the stock market closes. Krystal Hur, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Vuitton’s business was strong enough that in 1888, his only son, Georges, trademarked his now-signature checkerboard Damier print. Lindsay Talbot, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 In 1935, it was trademarked by the Crescent City's Roosevelt Hotel. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 14 Feb. 2024 Her character is wonderfully unsure, lacking the motor-mouthed confidence Palmer has since trademarked, and the actress seemlessly disappears within her role. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2023 Because the name was never trademarked, anyone can use it. Kate Cray, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2024 Is the Green Ticker (a term trademarked by Elkay) helping make the sale? Alden Wicker, WIRED, 10 Feb. 2024 Each painting depicts one of six Jayhawk logos over the years and are numbered with the year they were trademarked. Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2024 Instead, visitors to its appointment-only showroom must enter a nondescript brick building behind a white picket fence before finding themselves in what founder Don Siegel calls—and has trademarked—The Chipeta Experience. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trademark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trademark was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near trademark

Cite this Entry

“Trademark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trademark. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trademark

noun
trade·​mark
ˈtrād-ˌmärk
1
: a device (as a word) that points clearly to the origin or ownership of merchandise to which it is applied and that is legally reserved for use only by the owner
2
: something that identifies a person or thing
trademark verb

Medical Definition

trademark

noun
trade·​mark ˈtrād-ˌmärk How to pronounce trademark (audio)
: a device (as a word or mark) that points distinctly to the origin or ownership of merchandise to which it is applied and that is legally reserved for the exclusive use of the owner compare service mark

Legal Definition

trademark

noun
trade·​mark ˈtrād-ˌmärk How to pronounce trademark (audio)
: a mark that is used by a manufacturer or merchant to identify the origin or ownership of goods and to distinguish them from others and the use of which is protected by law see also dilution, infringement, strong mark, weak mark, Trademark Act of 1946 compare copyright, patent, service mark

Note: The Patent and Trademark Office registers trademarks and service marks that are used in interstate commerce or in intrastate commerce that affects interstate commerce. There are also state registration statutes for marks used in intrastate commerce. A trademark or service mark need not be registered for an owner to enforce his or her rights in court. The common law recognizes ownership of a trademark, established by actual and first use of the mark, but it extends only to the areas or markets where the mark is used. Federal registration of a trademark gives rise to a federal cause of action for infringement in addition to the common-law claim. Registration also serves as evidence of the owner's exclusive right to the continuous use and validity of the mark, and as constructive notice to the world of the claim to the mark. To be a valid trademark at common law and for federal registration, a mark must be distinctive; a descriptive mark may become distinctive by acquiring secondary meaning.

More from Merriam-Webster on trademark

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