1. not owned, controlled, or restricted by a single company or individual; available for general or public use
Usage: commonly used in technology and business contexts

Examples

• The software uses nonproprietary standards so it can run on any operating system.
• Nonproprietary tools are often cheaper because multiple vendors can produce them.
• The company switched to nonproprietary formats to avoid vendor lock-in.
• Nonproprietary data formats make it easier to share information between different applications.
• Many open-source projects rely on nonproprietary technologies.
• The hospital chose nonproprietary medical equipment to reduce costs and increase flexibility.