entrepreneur
noun
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The Characteristics of an Entrepreneur
You might well wonder whether entrepreneur simply means “a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money” or whether it carries an additional connotation of far-sightedness and innovation. The answer, perhaps unsatisfyingly, is that it can go in either direction.
Entrepreneur has been used in English to refer to a kind of businessman since at least the middle of the 18th century, when it appeared in translation of the King of Prussia’s instructions for his generals (“. . . if the country happens not to abound in forage, you must agree with some Entrepreneur for the quantity required.”). During the 19th century, it was also used of a go-between or a person who undertakes any kind of activity (as opposed to just a business).
By the early 20th century entrepreneur appears to have taken on the connotation of go-getter when applied to an independent business owner, a quality that may also be found in the phrase entrepreneurial spirit, which began being used at about the same time.
Examples of entrepreneur in a Sentence
Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
But his first big bet in the space—on the young entrepreneur Sam Altman and OpenAI—ended in a bitter breakup.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
The 26-year-old entrepreneur chose a black suit to wear with his white button-down shirt, which had a lower neckline to reveal his chest tattoos.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
The forum includes a collection of top athletes, entrepreneurs, investors, and cultural innovators and will take place at the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entrepreneur
Cite this Entry
“Entrepreneur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrepreneur. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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entrepreneur
noun
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