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
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
Now Musk is being a newspaper proprietor, but for a newspaper that doesn’t write or report its own stories, it’s just based on stories from other people and above it are all of his opinions.
—
Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025
From Gift Baskets to Community Image Born in France but now a Canadian, Suzanne Smith, 54, is the sole proprietor of Biscuits to Baskets, a coffee shop and chocolatier near Toronto.
—Mercedes Lilienthal, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
The couple owns one-third of the island and are activist proprietors, devoted to preserving its history and culture.
—Noah Lederman, Robb Report, 29 Dec. 2024
When a bar called Time Again opened in May on the stub of a dead-end street in Chinatown, the proprietors set out some red and blue plastic stools reminiscent of an elementary-school cafeteria’s.
—The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024
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Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025
From Gift Baskets to Community Image Born in France but now a Canadian, Suzanne Smith, 54, is the sole proprietor of Biscuits to Baskets, a coffee shop and chocolatier near Toronto.
—Mercedes Lilienthal, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
The couple owns one-third of the island and are activist proprietors, devoted to preserving its history and culture.
—Noah Lederman, Robb Report, 29 Dec. 2024
When a bar called Time Again opened in May on the stub of a dead-end street in Chinatown, the proprietors set out some red and blue plastic stools reminiscent of an elementary-school cafeteria’s.
—The Editors, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proprietor
Dictionary Entries Near proprietor
Cite this Entry
“Proprietor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietor. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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