trademark

trademark — noun

1. a distinctive name, word, picture, or other sign that a company puts on its good

1.nounB2
Definition

a distinctive name, word, picture, or other sign that a company puts on its goods — the law gives the company the sole right to use this sign, and other businesses may not copy it.

Example

The Nike swoosh is one of the most valuable trademarks in the world.

proper-noun trademark as recognizable logo

Sora checked the trademark database before launching his new brand of organic tea.

collocation: trademark database

Common collocations
  • registered trademark
  • trademark infringement
  • trademark protection
  • trademark registration
  • trademark law
  • trademark office
Synonyms
  • brand

    broader term that includes the overall identity and reputation of a company, not just its legal protection

  • logo

    specifically refers to the visual symbol or design element, not the name

  • service mark

    similar legal protection but used for services rather than physical products

Grammar Patterns

trademark of + [company/owner]

Usage Note

In legal writing, the registered trademark symbol ® indicates an officially registered trademark, while ™ indicates an unregistered one. Common legal terms paired with this sense include trademark infringement, trademark protection, and trademark registration.

Common Mistakes

I need to get a trademark for my new book.
I need to get a copyright for my new book.
trademarks protect names and symbols for products; copyrights protect written or artistic works.
The company patented the brand name Coca-Cola.
The company trademarked the brand name Coca-Cola.
patents protect inventions, not brand names.

2. a quality, habit, or pattern of behavior so closely linked with a particular per

2.nounB2
Definition

a quality, habit, or pattern of behavior so closely linked with a particular person or group that people recognize them by it.

Example

Folake's bright orange scarves have become her trademark in the fashion industry.

possessive: [person]'s trademark

A sharp sense of humor is the trademark of the late-night show host Christopher.

the trademark of + [person]

Common collocations
  • become someone's trademark
  • the trademark of [someone]
Synonyms
  • hallmark

    similar meaning but slightly more formal; often used for qualities of institutions rather than individuals

  • signature

    emphasizes a deliberate, personal style or move that someone is known for

  • calling card

    informal; a distinctive feature that immediately identifies a person or group

Grammar Patterns

[person/thing]'s trademark

the trademark of + [person/thing]

Usage Note

This figurative sense is always singular and typically appears with a possessive noun or phrase ('his trademark,' 'the chef's trademark'). Distinguish it from sense 1: here there is no legal registration — the 'trademark' is simply something people strongly associate with a person or thing.

Common Mistakes

Her kindness is a registered trademark of hers.
Her kindness is her trademark.
the figurative sense does not involve actual legal registration.
Punctuality is the trademark of the company's services.' (when meaning a legally protected service mark)
Use sense 1 with 'service mark' for legal contexts.

trademark — verb

Word family

  • trademarked
    adjectiveC1
  • trademarking
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Trademark, brand, logo, and service mark all relate to how a company identifies itself, but they have different legal and practical scopes. A trademark is a legally protected name, symbol, or design that distinguishes a product. A brand is a broader concept encompassing the entire identity, reputation, and customer perception of a company — it includes trademarks but also covers advertising style, customer experience, and company values. A logo is specifically the visual symbol or graphic element (like the Apple apple or McDonald's golden arches), which may or may not be a registered trademark by itself. A service mark is similar to a trademark but applies to services rather than physical goods (for example, FedEx's name is a service mark because the company delivers packages as a service). In practical usage: 'Nike has a powerful brand' refers to overall market identity; 'the swoosh is Nike's logo' names the visual; 'the swoosh is a registered trademark' states legal protection.

brand ↗logo ↗service mark

Common collocations

Nouns

  • trademark law
  • trademark office
  • trademark registration
  • trademark protection
  • trademark infringement

Phrases

  • trademark application
  • trademark dispute
  • trademark holder

Prepositions

  • under (under trademark)
  • as (registered as a trademark)

Etymology

English: trade + mark

The word trademark dates back to the mid-1800s, formed by combining the two nouns trade and mark. Trade refers to the buying and selling of goods, while mark has long meant a sign or symbol used for identification. The compound originally meant a mark placed on goods to show who made them — a practice that existed long before formal trademark law was introduced in the late 19th century.