Proprietor
[prəˈpraɪətər]
Definitions
The owner of a business or a piece of property.
[prəˈpraɪətər]
The owner of a business, or a holder of property.
The restaurant's proprietor was known for his excellent customer service.
💡 Simply: Imagine you own a lemonade stand. The person in charge of it, the one who decides what to sell and makes sure everything runs smoothly, is the proprietor!
👶 For kids: The owner of a store or a place.
More Examples
She spoke directly to the proprietor about the problems in her apartment.
The small inn was run by a friendly proprietor and his wife.
How It's Used
"The proprietor of the local bookstore greeted customers warmly."
"The proprietor of the apartment building was responsible for its upkeep."
From Late Latin *propriētārius*, from Latin *proprius* ('one's own'). It originally denoted an owner or holder of property.
Historically, the word has been associated with land ownership, but broadened to include ownership of businesses by the 18th century.
Memory tip
Think of 'property' and 'owner'; the proprietor is the person in charge.
Word Origin
"one's own, belonging to"