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

That was the message behind a lively conversation at The Chef Assembly in Charlotte, a two-day gathering of leading chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and hospitality professionals to explore conversations shaping the restaurant industry. — Evan Moore november 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026

At Hotel Motto, that person is Bernd Schlacher – one of Austria’s top restaurateurs who ran a buzzy Viennese eatery for over two decades. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Nov. 2026

All over the French capital, shop owners and restaurateurs have boarded up their windows against les manifestations—protests over a lack of education funding which have frequently devolved into rioting. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026

Slater and his business partner, fellow restaurateur Todd Ketlinski — who own Spitfire Tacos + Tequila in Eagle, Boise and McCall, and Hemlock steakhouse in Boise — bought the property and its liquor license at the beginning of 2026. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 3 Nov. 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

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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