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proper
/ˈpɹɔp.ə/
When used to mean "correct" or "appropriate," the word often refers to social rules and etiquette. It can sound quite formal or strict depending on the context. When placed after a noun (e.g., "the city proper"), it means the central or main part of something, excluding the surrounding areas. In British English, "proper" is frequently used as an intensifier meaning "real" or "thorough," such as in the phrase "a proper meal."
💬Casual Conversation
I've been eating granola bars all day. I need a proper meal before I crash.
Stop slacking and finish the reading first.
Meanings
Correct, appropriate, or fitting in a given social or professional context.
"It is not proper to speak with your mouth full during a formal dinner."
Strictly defined; belonging to the precise definition of a word or category.
"While we visited the outskirts, we didn't enter the city proper."