proprietor

[ pruh-prahy-i-ter ]
/ prəˈpraɪ ɪ tər /

noun

the owner of a business establishment, a hotel, etc.
a person who has the exclusive right or title to something; an owner, as of real property.
a group of proprietors; proprietary.

Origin of proprietor

First recorded in 1630–40; propriet(ary) + -or2

OTHER WORDS FROM proprietor

pro·pri·e·to·ri·al [pruh-prahy-i-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr-] /prəˌpraɪ ɪˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjective pro·pri·e·to·ri·al·ly, adverb pro·pri·e·tor·ship, noun non·pro·pri·e·tor, noun

Example sentences from the Web for proprietor

British Dictionary definitions for proprietor

proprietor
/ (prəˈpraɪətə) /

noun

an owner of an unincorporated business enterprise
a person enjoying exclusive right of ownership to some property
US history a governor or body of governors of a proprietary colony

Derived forms of proprietor

proprietorship, noun proprietorial (prəˌpraɪəˈtɔːrɪəl), adjective proprietress or proprietrix, fem n