entrepreneur

[ ahn-truh-pruh-nur, -noor; French ahn-truh-pruh-nœr ]

noun

, plural en·tre·pre·neurs [ahn-tr, uh, -pr, uh, -, nurz, -, noorz, ah, n, -t, r, uh, -p, r, uh, -, nœr].

1. a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.
2. an employer of productive labor; contractor.

verb (used with object)

1. to deal with or initiate as an entrepreneur.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as an entrepreneur.

entrepreneur

/ ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː; ɑ̃trəprənœr /

noun

1. the owner or manager of a business enterprise who, by risk and initiative, attempts to make profits
2. a middleman or commercial intermediary

entrepreneur

1. One who starts a business or other venture that promises economic gain but that also entails risks.

Derived Forms

• ˌentrepreˈneurship, noun
• ˌentrepreˈneurial, adjective

Other Words From

• en·tre·pre·neur·i·al adjective
• en·tre·pre·neur·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of entrepreneur¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from French: literally, “one who undertakes (some task),” equivalent to entrepren(dre) “to undertake” (from Latin inter- inter- + prendere “to take,” variant of prehendere ) + -eur -eur; enterprise

Word History and Origins

Origin of entrepreneur¹

C19: from French, from entreprendre to undertake; see enterprise

Example Sentences

In naming the space and electric car tycoon and the healthcare entrepreneur to head a new Department of Government Efficiency, Trump said he expected them to drive “radical change,” something like the Manhattan Project, the government initiative that created the atomic bomb during World War II.

From Los Angeles Times

As for Phase 10, the rummy-like card game was created by a Black inventor and entrepreneur Ken Johnson 1982.

From Salon

"As a serial entrepreneur, Musk has been relentless in trying to improve institutional efficiency at his own enterprises, most notably, Tesla and X," says Thomas Gift, a professor of US politics at University College London.

From BBC

In an early sign of the influence the tech entrepreneur may be rewarded with for his loyalty, Musk was party to a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the election.

From BBC

Facing a mass exodus of advertisers over his relaxation of the platform's user speech policies, the entrepreneur also monetised elements of the site to raise revenue.

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator
• contractor
• executive
• manager
• producer