proprietorial
gb/pɹˈɑpɹitˈɔɹiəl/ us/pɹˈɑpɹitˈɔɹiəl/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
showing an owner's possessive attitude
acting like you own something, even if you do not
Usage pattern:
[someone] + (look/air/tone/manner) + is proprietorial; proprietorial + [noun]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with proprietary, which more often refers to legal ownership or exclusive rights rather than a person's attitude.
Synonyms
possessive (Emphasizes wanting to control or keep something as ‘yours’.)
|
ownerly (Suggests the confident, comfortable manner of an owner.)
Antonyms
detached (Not showing personal ownership, pride, or protectiveness.)
|
nonpossessive (Not inclined to treat people or things as ‘mine’.)
Collocations
a proprietorial air
|a proprietorial manner
|a proprietorial tone
|a proprietorial smile
|a proprietorial look
|a proprietorial attitude
|proprietorial pride
|a proprietorial instinct
|proprietorial control
|a proprietorial claim
Themes
emotions
|social_relations
|work
Examples
- He greeted the visitors with a proprietorial smile, as if the whole gallery were his.
- She spoke in a proprietorial tone about the project, even though she hadn’t led it.
- The manager cast a proprietorial look over the open-plan office.
Learner examples
- He sounded proprietorial about the team.
- She gave the room a proprietorial glance.
adjective
legal
C2
relation
2
relating to ownership by a proprietor
connected to owning something (formal)
Usage pattern:
proprietorial + (rights/interests/claim/title)
Common mistake:
In everyday English, proprietary is much more common than proprietorial for this meaning.
Synonyms
proprietary (More common; focuses on exclusive ownership or rights.)
|
private (Broadly contrasts with public ownership, but less precise legally.)
Antonyms
public (Owned or controlled by the state or the public rather than a proprietor.)
|
nonproprietary (Not owned exclusively; not subject to proprietary rights.)
Collocations
proprietorial rights
|proprietorial interests
|proprietorial control
|proprietorial claim
|proprietorial title
|proprietorial stake
|proprietorial authority
|proprietorial responsibilities
Themes
business
|law
|property
Examples
- The contract sets out the proprietorial rights of each partner.
- The publisher retained a proprietorial interest in the content after the sale.
- A dispute arose over the proprietorial claim to the land.
Grammar
Dictionary form
proprietorial
IPA
GB/pɹˈɑpɹitˈɔɹiəl/
US/pɹˈɑpɹitˈɔɹiəl/
Syllables & stress
pro - pri - et - or - i - al (6 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pro)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: proprietorial
- Comparative: proprietorialer
- Superlative: proprietorialest
Word family
Forms
proprietorialer
adjective
proprietorialest
adjective
Core family
Related words
proprietorship
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nonproprietary
adjective
Expressions
with a proprietorial air
1/wˈɪθ ə pɹˈɑpɹitˈɔɹiəl ˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
in an owner-like way
looking or acting like an owner
Examples
- He wandered through the workshop with a proprietorial air, pointing out small details.
- She introduced the team with a proprietorial air, as if she had built it herself.
- The consultant spoke with a proprietorial air about the strategy.