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

History tells us that promises by news proprietors to preserve their properties’ independence from their own partisan ideological predilections are typically honored in the breach. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Its chef-proprietor Wei Fa Chen trained under renowned chef Masa Takayama at Masa in New York City before setting up shop in Boston, where this tiny, ten-seat counter quickly became one of the city’s toughest tables to book. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026

Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are generally exempt themselves, though construction businesses are typically required to carry coverage even with very few employees. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

The story also summarized how much money the two candidates had raised from different categories of supporters, such as the proprietors of nursing homes, labor unions and small donors. — Robert Boatright, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 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