proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 

1

: one granted ownership of a colony (such as one of the original American colonies) and full prerogatives of establishing a government and distributing land

2

a

: a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something : owner

b

: one having an interest (such as control or present use) less than absolute and exclusive right

Synonyms of proprietor

• owner

Examples of proprietor in a Sentence

She is the proprietor of the store.

the proprietor of a used-car dealership

Recent Examples on the Web

The raunchy stand-up comedian made his unexpected TV debut playing a junkyard and salvage business proprietor prone to get-rich-quick schemes and faking heart attacks. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Hiddleston relies on professors, scholars, archaeologists and psychologists to piece together what happened to a teenage blacksmith apprentice, a businesswoman/bathhouse proprietor and an unidentified Praetorian guard. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026

In hard years, Noe Terrebonne, the great-great-grandson of Acadian exiles, would do a bit of smuggling for Li Shan, the Chinese proprietor of a shrimp-drying platform on Bayou Andre, in the marsh north-west of Cheniere Disparue. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Although content with his stature in furnishings retail and proud of his wife Elizabeth’s parallel blossoming as the proprietor of a thriving travel agency, Carney gets wrapped up with Uncle Rich once more. — David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of proprietary entry 2, by substitution of -or entry 1 for -ary entry 1

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing proprietor

• co-proprietor

Rhymes for proprietor

• quieter

Kids Definition

proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​etor

p(r)ə-ˈprī-ət-ər

1

: a person to whom ownership of a colony is granted

2

: a person who is owner

the proprietor of the store

proprietorship

-ˌship

noun

Legal Definition

proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 

: one who has legal right or exclusive title to something : owner

also : one (as a lessee) having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute or exclusive right