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I am trying to come up with a word that means something is intended to be used with something else, like "proprietary" without the legal connotation, for example after-market car parts. They're not proprietary, but they will only fit an '89 Cutlass, etc.

"Intended" is too broad, "integrated", "co-engineered", "related", "matching", "custom" all miss the mark.

"The Widget Co fasteners only work with these hinges, they're proprietary".

Edit more info:

Thanks FumbleFingers for "dedicated to/specifically made for", that is the right idea. I want to boil it to one word (if it's out there) to use in as a bullet point or - if I'm lucky - a mnemonic.

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    A bolt-on, for example, is something added to a ​main ​product, ​service, or ​plan as a ​smaller, ​extra ​part or ​feature, ​especially in ​business. For your context I think you'd be better of with a phrase, such as ...they're dedicated to/specifically made for this job.
    – FumbleFingers
    Dec 15, 2015 at 21:19
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    Technically, ad hoc would work, but it carries the wrong connotation.
    – Hot Licks
    Dec 15, 2015 at 21:31
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    I would use product-specific, even though it isn't the kind of simple term you would prefer. Many third-party accessories for particular editions of Apple products, for example, are identified as iPhone 6S–specific, iMac Reina–specific, or the like, when they are designed to work with only a particular model of a product. As FumbleFingers observes, the word dedicated indicates a similar specificity of functionality and may be a better choice in certain contexts.
    – Sven Yargs
    Dec 15, 2015 at 21:54
  • +1 for "specific". Definition: having a special application, bearing, or reference; relating to one thing and not others; ​particular.
    – Graffito
    Dec 15, 2015 at 22:19
  • They're probably too similar to "matching," which you say doesn't work, but "..., they're matched" or " ... they're paired" are pretty close, I think.
    – Papa Poule
    Dec 15, 2015 at 22:33

3 Answers 3

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I would use specialized. "The Widget Co fasteners are specialized for these hinges, they work only with them" or "The Widget Co fasteners work only with these hinges, they're specialized".

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  • "specialty" is another word, but it would refer to a tight range of products - where specialized might be better if they are more single application ? Like: Acme Refrirator supply makes specialty hardware for use within low temperature freezer boxes, including specialized intake valves for each brand and model number.
    – Tom22
    Jun 7, 2018 at 17:54
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You could consider using tailor-made which means the following:

Made, adapted, or suited for a particular purpose or person

Also unique:

Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else:

[Oxford Online Dictionary]

The Widget Co fasteners only work with these hinges, they're tailor-made/unique.

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ad hoc (adj & adv), according to Oxford Dictionary Online:

formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only

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