restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 

variants or less commonly restauranteur

ˌre-stə-ˌrän-ˈtər 

: the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

Did you know?

Restaurateur Has French Roots

Restaurateur and restaurant are French words from Latin restaurare, meaning "to restore." Of the two words, restaurant is more common—a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling restauranteur for restaurateur. Some people consider restauranteur to be an error, but it is still on the menu as an acceptable word choice.

Examples of restaurateur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hotel developer and restaurateur Robert Colombo aims to build the Montclair Hotel and Residences, an approximately 23-story tower at 2516 Maple Ave. —Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026

Signatories include several prominent Twin Cities chefs and restaurateurs, including Gavin Kaysen, Ann Kim, Gustavo Romero, Karyn Tomlinson, and Andrew Zimmern. —Serena Maria Daniels, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026

Won Kow was built in 1928 by a restaurateur named Moy, according to Tribune archives. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026

His second career as a restaurateur appears to be taking off. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "restorer, proprietor of a restaurant," going back to Middle French, "restorer," borrowed from Latin restaurātor, from restaurāre "to return to its former condition, restore" + -tor, agent suffix

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for restaurateur

• entrepreneur
• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• saboteur
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant