proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər How to pronounce proprietor (audio)
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 The Sacramento Bee caught up with Ryan Armstrong, a former emergency medical technician and current proprietor of Capital City CPR teaching wilderness first aid training, for his thoughts on the basics of being prepared for the worst on your outdoor excursion. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024 Souto de Moura, an esteemed architect and proprietor of Duas Portas, a tranquil eight-room boutique hotel in Porto, shared her profound insights on what sets Portugal’s visual language apart. Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2024 The meal was a reward, but also relaxation: the simple bliss of sitting next to my loved one, surrounded by floor staff and proprietors who had become not just recognizable faces, but friends. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2024 The rest of the White House building will serve as an events-only venue, according to owner and proprietor Allison Meinhardt. Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2024 To be eligible for the program, microenterprises must operate within Milpitas city limits, not exceed five employees (including W2 employees and sole proprietors) and operate as a for-profit enterprise. Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2024 The 31-line notice had been taken out by Charles Lewis Tiffany, proprietor of an opulent emporium called Tiffany & Co. Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 In the nineteen-fifties, his father, Cecil, was the proprietor of GrAInge, a North London record shop and appliance retailer. John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024 The entire space is painted a warm, inviting pink: Nancy’s Blushes by Farrow & Ball, a personal favorite of the proprietor. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'proprietor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of proprietary entry 1

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of proprietor was in 1537

Dictionary Entries Near proprietor

Cite this Entry

“Proprietor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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 How to pronounce proprietor (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on proprietor

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