restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər How to pronounce restaurateur (audio)
variants or less commonly restauranteur
: the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Co-owner and Fort Worth restaurateur Chris Jordan aims to officially open by the end of June. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026 Now, Cady is a former restaurateur and womanizer who became a tabloid sensation after his pregnant wife disappeared; his defense attorney, the young, pregnant, alcoholic Anna, seemingly guided him toward a plea deal engineered by Tom. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026 This downtown institution runs on family recipes (owner Kory Nagler is a third-generation restaurateur) and makes nearly everything from scratch, down to batters worked in an old-fashioned sourdough barrel. Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 The Vanderpump Hotel is the restaurateur’s 40th concept, and her most ambitious yet. Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for restaurateur

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of restaurateur was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Restaurateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restaurateur. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun
res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər How to pronounce restaurateur (audio)
variants also restauranteur
: a person who owns or runs a restaurant
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