proprietress

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tress prə-ˈprī-ə-trəs How to pronounce proprietress (audio)
prō-
: a woman who is a proprietor

Examples of proprietress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Scales said her performance as Sybil was inspired by her visit as a child to a Devonshire hotel restaurant during World War II, where the hotel's proprietress flitted about while attending to her guests. David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025 The Power of the Dog When intimidating rancher Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his brother George (Jesse Plemons) meet widowed proprietress Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst), their lives are changed forever. Alex Gurley, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Today By Paulina Berges A luxury hotel with a ryokan spirit, the proprietress of this eight-room property also happens to be an interior designer and meticulously curated every aspect. Christina Liao, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025 Whitney Cardozo is the chef and proprietress of Chez Foushee in Richmond, VA and the owner of vintage glassware shop, Chez at Home. Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for proprietress

Word History

Etymology

propriet(o)r + -ess

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of proprietress was in 1692

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proprietress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietress. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!