proprietress

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tress prə-ˈprī-ə-trəs 

prō-

: a woman who is a proprietor

Examples of proprietress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During her first bombing, Ginny had run for shelter into a perfume shop, where the proprietress methodically moved each bottle from the streetfront vitrine into a neat line on the floor as the dust from the percussive bombs blotted out the sun. — Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026

But Scales said her performance as Sybil was inspired by her visit as a child to a Devonshire hotel restaurant during World War II, where the hotel's proprietress flitted about while attending to her guests. — David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025

Today By Paulina Berges A luxury hotel with a ryokan spirit, the proprietress of this eight-room property also happens to be an interior designer and meticulously curated every aspect. — Christina Liao, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025

Whitney Cardozo is the chef and proprietress of Chez Foushee in Richmond, VA and the owner of vintage glassware shop, Chez at Home. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

propriet(o)r + -ess

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined above