WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
prop•er /ˈprɑpɚ/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- most suitable;
right;
correct:[before a noun]Is this the proper time to plant strawberries? - agreeing with established or accepted standards:proper behavior.[It + be + ~ + to + verb]It's not proper to come so late to parties.
- in the strict sense:[after a noun]Shellfish do not belong to the class of fishes proper.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]utter;
genuine:[before a noun]a proper fool.
prop•er
(prop′ər),USA pronunciation adj.
adv.
n.
prop′er•ly, adv.
prop′er•ness, n.
- adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances;
fit;
suitable:the proper time to plant strawberries. - conforming to established standards of behavior or manners;
correct or decorous:a very proper young man. - fitting;
right:It was only proper to bring a gift. - strictly belonging or applicable:the proper place for a stove.
- belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
- strict;
accurate. - in the strict sense of the word (usually used postpositively):Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper. Is the school within Boston proper or in the suburbs?
- Grammar
- (of a name, noun, or adjective) designating a particular person or thing and written in English with an initial capital letter, as Joan, Chicago, Monday, American.
- having the force or function of a proper name:a proper adjective.
- normal or regular.
- belonging to oneself or itself;
own. - British Terms[Chiefly Brit. Informal.]complete or thorough:a proper thrashing.
- Religion[Eccles.]used only on a particular day or festival:the proper introit.
- Heraldry(of a device) depicted in its natural colors:an oak tree proper.
- Informal Terms
- excellent;
capital;
fine. - good-looking or handsome.
- excellent;
- Mathematics(of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.
- [Archaic.]of good character;
respectable.
adv.
- Informal Termsthoroughly;
completely.
n.
- Religion[Eccles.]a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.
- Latin proprius one's own
- Old French
- Middle English propre 1250–1300
prop′er•ness, n.
- 1. suited. 2. 3. meet, befitting, becoming, decent, polite. 5. special, individual, peculiar. 6. precise, exact, just, formal.
'properly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ameliorate
- amoral
- aright
- behave
- blink
- climate
- climactic
- complex
- fail
- fresco
- function
- gear
- go
- haywire
- ice cream
- load line
- logic
- misunderstand
- misunderstanding
- misunderstood
- nervous breakdown
- nose
- order
- orderly
- pukka
- right
- rightly
- seemly
- steer
- syntax
- temazepam
- transpire
- well-appointed
- work
- wrong
- act
- adjusted
- amblyoscope
- amiss
- arrange
- baby-sit
- bad
- belong
- broken
- broken play
- catch
- cavatina
- common
- community
- competent