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

What's next for you as a restaurateur? —Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Sungchul Sim—one our fine dining rising stars last year—has become a prolific restaurateur. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025

The old brick building is still there, but is now owned by prominent restaurateur Francois Safieddine. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025

Kristen Kish The Top Chef winner and restaurateur keeps things bold with a black cold brew. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French restaurateur, from Late Latin restaurator restorer, from Latin restaurare

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