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

• 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 nori for Marin Coastal Gin is hand-harvested from the beaches below the rugged bluffs of the Sonoma Coast by Heidi Herrmann, proprietor of Strong Arm Farm. —Camille Berry, Vogue, 15 July 2025

Condé Nast was once again the proprietor of the most famous celebrity party in the world. —Michael Grynbaum, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025

Back in Gilbert's Olde Salem Magic Shoppe, the proprietor's black cat Cobweb is seen climbing onto one of the store shelves. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 14 July 2025

When the brother-in-law turned out to be merely the proprietor of a general store selling supplies to workers constructing the Panama Canal, Gauguin himself took up a pickaxe and began to dig. —Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of proprietary 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