trade-mark

A company registers its trade-mark with the government.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A distinctive symbol or name: A trademark is a legally registered symbol, design, word, or phrase that identifies and distinguishes the products or services of one company from those of others.
   • A distinctive characteristic: Informally, a trademark can refer to a distinctive feature or quality that is typical of a particular person, place, or thing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (legal sense):

  • The company's logo is a registered trade-mark. (The logo is legally protected as a unique identifier for the business.)
  • Counterfeit goods often violate a trade-mark. (Fake products illegally use a registered symbol or name.)

• Noun (informal sense):

  • Her sense of humour is her personal trade-mark. (Humor is a distinctive characteristic associated with her.)
  • The restaurant's spicy sauce is a trade-mark of its cuisine. (The sauce is a unique and typical feature of the food served there.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a trade-mark of": to be a defining or distinctive feature of something.

  • Precision engineering is a trade-mark of this brand. (The brand is known for its careful and exact manufacturing.)

• "to trade-mark something" (verb): To register something as a trademark.

  • The inventor decided to trade-mark the new product name. (He legally protected the name from being used by others.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trademark (noun, alternative spelling): Same as trade-mark; often written as one word.

  • The trademark is valid for ten years. (The legal protection lasts for a decade.)

• Trademarked (adj): protected by a trademark.

  • The phrase is trademarked and cannot be used without permission. (It is legally registered.)

Synonyms

• Brand: a type of product or service made by a particular company.
  • The brand name is a valuable asset. (The company's identity is important.)
• Logotype: a graphic representation of a company name or trademark.
  • The logotype is simple and memorable. (The design is easy to recall.)
• Distinctive feature: a characteristic that makes something unique.
  • Her laugh is a distinctive feature of her personality. (It is easily recognized.)

Related Idioms

• "To stamp one's trade-mark on something": to leave a distinctive personal mark or influence on something.
  • The director stamped his trade-mark on the film with dramatic lighting. (He made the film uniquely his own.)
• "To be a trade-mark of quality": to be a symbol of high quality.
  • The gold seal is a trade-mark of quality craftsmanship. (It indicates excellent work.)