proprietor

noun pro·pri·e·tor \ prə-ˈprī-ə-tər \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: proprietor in a Sentence

Definition of proprietor

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

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proprietorship

play \prə-ˈprī-ə-tər-ˌship\ noun

See proprietor defined for English-language learners

See proprietor defined for kids

Examples of proprietor in a Sentence

She is the proprietor of the store.
the proprietor of a used-car dealership

Recent Examples of proprietor from the Web

Productivity, also known as output per hour, is calculated by dividing real output by hours worked by employees, proprietors and unpaid family workers.

— jonathan sperling, Fortune, "U.S. Productivity Rose at Less-Than-Expected Numbers in 2018's First Quarter," 6 June 2018
Its future lies in limbo as the sons of the late proprietor clash and some staffers get dangerously friendly.

— time staff, Time, "22 New Books to Read This Summer," 22 May 2018
Frances Gotti, the wife of the late Ernie’s restaurant proprietor Victor Gotti, was in attendance with daughters Jennifer and Marlo, and showed off a souvenir from the film.

— tony bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Vertigo’ star Kim Novak talks Hitchcock, #MeToo at sold-out Castro celebration," 21 May 2018
The prospective proprietor, Scott Dickmann, has discussed the proposal with Village President Jeff Knutson, Administrator Scott Gosse and Parks and Rec Director Kelley Woldanski.

— jordyn noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cruises on Pewaukee Lake? Village officials aren't interested in the plan — yet," 17 May 2018
The current proprietor, Jerry Gordon, is the great nephew of Edward Levy, founder of Eddie’s Market.

— jacques kelly, baltimoresun.com, "Jacques Kelly: One short block in Baltimore has run the gamut, from aspirin to alcohol," 5 May 2018
Some leave riverwalk Chef Didier Durand, one of the Riverwalk’s longest-tenured proprietors, will not return this summer.

— greg trotter, chicagotribune.com, "Riverwalk rising: City banking on boom to pay off cost of river transformation," 13 Apr. 2018
Enter Big Wig Tacos and Burritos, owned by Jose Manolo Estrada, the nephew of TBK's proprietors, Uriel and Carlos Lamas.

— shelbie lynn bostedt, RedEye Chicago, "Big Wig Tacos carries on the family tradition of Taco Burrito King," 15 May 2017
Gray, the proprietor of the audio production studio, had a busy day on Thursday.

— danny mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, "‘It’s such a bummer.’ In Cambridge, musicians are forced out of EMF," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proprietor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of proprietor

alteration of ¹proprietary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1537

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

See Words from the same year

proprietor Synonyms

PROPRIETOR Defined for English Language Learners

proprietor

noun

Definition of proprietor for English Language Learners

: a person who owns a business or property

PROPRIETOR Defined for Kids

proprietor

noun pro·pri·e·tor \ prə-ˈprī-ə-tər \

Definition of proprietor for Students

: a person who owns something : owner

Law Dictionary

proprietor

noun pro·pri·e·tor \ prə-ˈprī-ə-tər \

legal Definition of proprietor

: 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