(TM).A word, symbol, or insignia designating one or more proprietary products or the manufacturer of such products, that has been officially registered with the government trademark agency. The accepted designation is a superior capital R enclosed in a circle; however, quotation marks may also be used, as in this dictionary. The term trade name, though widely used, is not applicable to such products; according to the U.S. Trade Mark Association, a trade name is the name under which a company does business, e.g., the Blank Chemical Company. Use of a trademark without proper indication of its proprietary nature places the name in jeopardy; a number of trademarks have been invalidated as a result of this practice.