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

The Seattle entrepreneur, who also campaigned for Harris, said it grates on her to see people laughing in restaurants “as if nothing had happened.”

From Los Angeles Times

Tetraeder’s X account describes him as “Global Tetrahedron CEO, chairman, media proprietor, entrepreneur, human trafficker, thought leader, and venture capitalist.”

From Los Angeles Times

In articles published in Forbes magazine, Morgan also claimed to be a successful technology businesswoman, calling herself an "economist, serial entrepreneur, software investor and rapper".

From BBC

President-elect Donald Trump has given two wealthy entrepreneurs a mission that has eluded many other occupants of the White House: Make the U.S. government smaller and more efficient.

From Los Angeles Times

"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

Related Words

• administrator
• contractor
• executive
• manager
• producer