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

These perspectives show that diners and restaurateurs alike see tipping as an act of acknowledgment — a way to recognize the difference between acceptable and exceptional service. —Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025

The service fee issue is sure to resonate with many restaurateurs. —Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025

It was planned in collaboration with restaurateur and hotelier Sam Fox, through his company Author & Edit Hospitality. —Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Nov. 2025

The film tells the story of chef and restaurateur Dahl, who discovered that cooking was a healing force for her after her son, Justin, was murdered by a backpack thief in the 1990s. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025

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