proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 

1

: one granted ownership of a colony (such as one of the original American colonies) and full prerogatives of establishing a government and distributing land

2

a

: a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something : owner

b

: one having an interest (such as control or present use) less than absolute and exclusive right

Synonyms

• holder
• owner
• possessor

Examples of proprietor in a Sentence

She is the proprietor of the store.

the proprietor of a used-car dealership

Recent Examples on the Web

The man’s fears are realized when the monkey suddenly begins banging his drum, with a Rube Goldberg-style series of events causing the proprietor to get graphically disemboweled. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025

Clodagh Lawless, proprietor of The Dearborn in the Loop, said the restaurant depended on Loop office workers to hit its lunch revenue projections. —Peter Breen, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025

Best Artisan Empanadas, Campbell, and Big E Cafe, San Jose The E in the Big E Cafe’s name stands for empanadas, espresso and Ernesto May, the proprietor. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025

Under the new administration, proprietors and workers are preparing for the worst. —Brett Anderson, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of proprietary entry 1

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing proprietor

• co-proprietor

Rhymes for proprietor

• quieter

Kids Definition

proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​etor

p(r)ə-ˈprī-ət-ər

1

: a person to whom ownership of a colony is granted

2

: a person who is owner

the proprietor of the store

proprietorship

-ˌship

noun

Legal Definition

proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 

: one who has legal right or exclusive title to something : owner

also : one (as a lessee) having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute or exclusive right