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

On one side is Matsuhisa Paros, which has become one of the island’s must-visit dining rooms thanks to the Nobu-style menu, helmed by beloved Japanese chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

Over time, visits evolved into lasting friendships with chefs, sommeliers and restaurateurs who would later play an unexpected role in his wine journey. — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Some fellow sommeliers followed their passion as a restaurateur, chef, college professor, or even a geologist. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026

Chris Ciezak, the restaurateur, requested $125,000 in loan funding and the maximum $40,000 grant award to help offset high building material and construction costs in the current market, village officials said. — Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 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