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

Brian Malarkey is a Food Network celebrity chef, restaurateur, and two-time Top Chef finalist. — Brian Malarkey, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Polizzi stopped at Jeff Ruby's Carlo & Johnny in Montgomery on Thursday, according to a social media post from the local restaurateur. — Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Sep. 2026

The place is owned by sister restaurateurs Katy Noochla-or and Chef Amanda Maneesilasan, who were born in Bangkok, raised in LA, and also operate Tuk Tuk Thai (right next door) and Chao Krung Thai. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026

This time, chef, restaurateur and hometown hero Matheson is going all in. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 Sep. 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