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

Every year, restaurateurs and diners wait with bated breath to see which spots earned or lost Michelin stars, which are announced in regional ceremonies and then published in the organization’s global guides. —Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Nov. 2025

Faith Salie talks with Mullen about building a board that is more than mere party food; and with chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud about the history of traditional French charcuterie. —David Morgan, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025

Simon Kim has emerged as one of the great restaurateurs of his generation, though that took some time. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025

Dalton Espaillat, who is among the area’s most successful restaurateurs, is among those watching the events taking place and sharing concern, even though his businesses haven’t been among those hardest hit. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 19 Nov. 2025

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

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Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant