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
Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Pegula and Navarro hail from two of the country’s wealthiest families, with billionaire entrepreneurs for fathers whose largesse helped support an endeavor that can cost at least $50,000 a year for coaching and travel.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
Jet owners—from celebrities like Paris Hilton to entrepreneurs—are embracing interiors that reflect their personalities.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2025
Nguyen and Gonzales were already successful in making connections with small baking entrepreneurs ahead of Sugar Social.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 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 31 Aug. 2025.
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entrepreneur
noun
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