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

Sacramento County prosecutors found insufficient evidence and declined to file criminal charges against local chef and restaurateur Adam Pechal, who was arrested earlier this week on a felony domestic violence charge. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

The restaurateur and wife of NBA champion Stephen Curry is set to star in a new movie. — Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026

Bouchett joined 170 other business owners and restaurateurs who last year wrote an open letter to the mayor warning that the city was in crisis. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Few restaurateurs permit their staff as much creative freedom as owner-operator Kendall Lockwood; each drink on Ball and Biscuit’s signature cocktail menu is attributed to its creator, usually with a theme drawn from movies or TV. — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 29 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