restaurateur
noun
res·tau·ra·teur
ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 
variants
or less commonly restauranteur
: 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
Chef Albert was a restaurateur trying to wheedle a good review out of a tough restaurant critic.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Two restaurateur cousins with family roots in Greece have opened a fast-casual, takeout-type restaurant featuring their family’s recipes and other authentic Greek fare.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Santiago, whose career has been in the food and beverage business as a nutraceutical ingredients industry executive and a former restaurateur, breaks it down even further.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
At just 31 years old, Axel Oliva helped lift Leche de Tigre to accolades rarely manifested by restaurateurs even twice his age.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restaurateur
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Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Two restaurateur cousins with family roots in Greece have opened a fast-casual, takeout-type restaurant featuring their family’s recipes and other authentic Greek fare.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Santiago, whose career has been in the food and beverage business as a nutraceutical ingredients industry executive and a former restaurateur, breaks it down even further.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
At just 31 years old, Axel Oliva helped lift Leche de Tigre to accolades rarely manifested by restaurateurs even twice his age.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for restaurateur
Cite this Entry
“Restaurateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restaurateur. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
restaurateur
noun
res·tau·ra·teur
ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər
variants
also restauranteur
: a person who owns or runs a restaurant
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