restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 

variants or less commonly restauranteur

ˌre-stə-ˌrän-ˈtər 

: the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

Did you know?

Restaurateur Has French Roots

Restaurateur and restaurant are French words from Latin restaurare, meaning "to restore." Of the two words, restaurant is more common—a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling restauranteur for restaurateur. Some people consider restauranteur to be an error, but it is still on the menu as an acceptable word choice.

Examples of restaurateur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the last two weeks, the restaurateurs have prepared roughly 10,000 meals that rolled out to firefighters, evacuees and other first responders in the wake and duration of a string of wildfires that have decimated the city. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025

While the motion is still pending judicial review, Redline’s lawsuit is not the only indication of money troubles for the restaurateurs. —Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025

Thanks for Phan’s contributions came rolling in Tuesday from chefs, restaurateurs and civic leaders saddened by news of the chef’s sudden death. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025

Retailers and restaurateurs looked at it and passed. —Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French restaurateur, from Late Latin restaurator restorer, from Latin restaurare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant