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

Ellen is a professor at Georgetown — apparently of political science or a related field — and Paul’s a chef and restaurateur. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025

But the shopkeeper, the restaurateur, the hairdresser—those whose livelihoods depended on open doors and face-to-face contact—saw their incomes collapse overnight. —Ugo Troiano, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025

Daffodil Café, a new daytime concept from San Diego restaurateur Lauren Passero-Brookes, has opened in the La Jolla Commons business park area northeast of Westfield UTC shopping center. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025

For Madrid and Talavera de la Reina restaurateurs, the case serves as a reminder that even everyday objects left in plain sight can become targets. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 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