1
a
: referring to one individual only
b
: belonging to one : own
c
: appointed for the liturgy of a particular day
d
: represented heraldically in natural color
2
: belonging characteristically to a species or individual : peculiar
3
chiefly dialectal
: good-looking, handsome
4
: very good : excellent
6
: strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea
the city proper
7
8
: marked by suitability, rightness, or appropriateness : fit
9
: being a mathematical subset (such as a subgroup) that does not contain all the elements of the inclusive set from which it is derived
properness
noun
1
: the parts of the Mass that vary according to the liturgical calendar
2
: the part of a missal or breviary containing the proper of the Mass and the offices proper to the holy days of the liturgical year
chiefly dialectal
: in a thorough manner : completely
Synonyms
Examples of proper in a Sentence
Adjective
It is not proper to speak that way.
The children need to learn proper behavior.
It would not be proper for you to borrow the ladder without asking first.
She is a very prim and proper young lady.
Is this the proper spelling of your name?
You need to eat a proper meal instead of junk food.
Each step must be done in the proper order.
Adverb
They beat us good and proper.
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
But not having proper documentation can bring serious consequences.
—Trisha Mukherjee, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
TikTok Lite, a basic version of TikTok proper, offered to pay users several cents a day for watching videos.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
Daniel Gordis, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2011
Phoenix proper gets only about one-third of its water from the Colorado River.
—Daniel Rothberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proper 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
To ensure proper data management, training on data collection, entry and analysis needs to be an integral part of quarterly or semiannual performance reviews.
—Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
But not having proper documentation can bring serious consequences.
—Trisha Mukherjee, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
Earlier this month, TVLine asked Hodge how much Hardison Leverage: Redemption fans can expect in Season 3, which is due to release in 2025 on Prime Video proper.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
TikTok Lite, a basic version of TikTok proper, offered to pay users several cents a day for watching videos.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
Adverb
His refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state or to drop his demand for the right of return for Palestinian refugees into Israel proper made clear that the conflict is not about to be resolved.
—Daniel Gordis, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2011
Phoenix proper gets only about one-third of its water from the Colorado River.
—Daniel Rothberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proper
Articles Related to proper
Dictionary Entries Near proper
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proper. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share