proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 

1

: one granted ownership of a colony (such as one of the original American colonies) and full prerogatives of establishing a government and distributing land

2

a

: a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something : owner

b

: one having an interest (such as control or present use) less than absolute and exclusive right

Synonyms

• holder
• owner
• possessor

Examples of proprietor in a Sentence

She is the proprietor of the store.

the proprietor of a used-car dealership

Recent Examples on the Web

This includes in-store snowball tossing, courtesy of proprietor Bob Homer, whose young customers never tire of the practice and whose older ones — some of whom were once younger ones — are grateful to recapture some of those summer vibes. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2025

Both brands are owned by Ray-Ban proprietor EssilorLuxottica. —Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 18 June 2025

Happier Now proprietor Andrea Slivka is a long-time area resident and talked about her early memories of the library. —Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

The team decamped to Harriman's, where Mendler's new friend Jim Walter, the proprietor, served them shots. —ArsTechnica, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of proprietary entry 1

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing proprietor

• co-proprietor

Rhymes for proprietor

• quieter

Kids Definition

proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​etor

p(r)ə-ˈprī-ət-ər

1

: a person to whom ownership of a colony is granted

2

: a person who is owner

the proprietor of the store

proprietorship

-ˌship

noun

Legal Definition

proprietor

noun

pro·​pri·​e·​tor prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 

: one who has legal right or exclusive title to something : owner

also : one (as a lessee) having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute or exclusive right