proprietor

[ pruh-prahy-i-ter ]

noun

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

proprietor

/ prəˌpraɪəˈtɔːrɪəl; prəˈpraɪətə /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• proprietorial, adjective
• proˈprietress, noun:feminine
• proˈprietorship, noun

Other Words From

• pro·pri·e·to·ri·al [pr, uh, -prahy-i-, tawr, -ee-, uh, l, -, tohr, -], adjective
• pro·prie·tori·al·ly adverb
• pro·prie·tor·ship noun
• nonpro·prie·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of proprietor¹

First recorded in 1630–40; propriet(ary) + -or ²

Example Sentences

It is positioning itself as a key part of the "resistance" to Donald Trump, using the US election to highlight that is a media organisation without a billionaire proprietor - while also asking its readers for donations.

From BBC

The proprietor of Maria’s Express said that she had voted for the vice president and predicted the candidate’s victory: “Everybody voted for her — my customers and the neighbors.”

From Los Angeles Times

Along the highway east of town, you will probably encounter Coyote, a 67-year-old junkyard proprietor with a booming baritone voice and a truck that says “UFO retrieval and repairs.”

From Los Angeles Times

"What you want in a proprietor is somebody who is willing to invest, who is willing to have the confidence in what the journalists are doing, and also is willing to protect editorial independence. And there’s not the slightest suggestion that Paul Marshall isn’t willing to do that," he said.

From BBC

The proprietor was grateful Bush understood.

From Los Angeles Times