restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 

variants or less commonly restauranteur

ˌre-stə-ˌrän-ˈtər 

: the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

Did you know?

Restaurateur Has French Roots

Restaurateur and restaurant are French words from Latin restaurare, meaning "to restore." Of the two words, restaurant is more common—a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling restauranteur for restaurateur. Some people consider restauranteur to be an error, but it is still on the menu as an acceptable word choice.

Examples of restaurateur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Local restaurateur brings new entertainment and dining concept with brunch and late-night offerings to downtown Detroit. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025

María del Mar Valera, a Tabarca restaurateur and president of APEHA, an association of Alicante hospitality businesses, tells CNN that international visitors can make up to 80 to 90% of arrivals. —Miquel Ros, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025

The announcement comes one year after founder and namesake Allyn Raifstanger sold the spot to Sam Dobrozsi, a local restaurateur, who also owns Fireside Pizza, in Walnut Hills. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Oct. 2025

Vince is the screwup, a mostly-former drug and gambling addict, while Jake is a successful restaurateur, running the eponymous club/restaurant Black Rabbit in Manhattan. —Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French restaurateur, from Late Latin restaurator restorer, from Latin restaurare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for restaurateur

• entrepreneur
• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• saboteur
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur

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Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant