proprietor
noun
pro·pri·e·tor
prə-ˈprī-ə-tər 
1
: one granted ownership of a colony (such as one of the original American colonies) and full prerogatives of establishing a government and distributing land
2
a
: a person who has the legal right or exclusive title to something : owner
b
: one having an interest (such as control or present use) less than absolute and exclusive right
Examples of proprietor in a Sentence
She is the proprietor of the store.
the proprietor of a used-car dealership
Recent Examples on the Web
As the restaurant filled up, its proprietor, Michael McCarty, came by and dispensed business cards.
—
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Business proprietors can opt for a Venmo Business account, which comes with a bevy of unique features.
—PCMAG, 13 Mar. 2025
First stop, a local pizzeria, where the proprietor — who, like everyone else in Newton, knows Juliana — teaches Grant the proper way to make a pie.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Glenn Close met the proprietors through a mutual friend and became a fan on her first visit.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proprietor
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Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Business proprietors can opt for a Venmo Business account, which comes with a bevy of unique features.
—PCMAG, 13 Mar. 2025
First stop, a local pizzeria, where the proprietor — who, like everyone else in Newton, knows Juliana — teaches Grant the proper way to make a pie.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Glenn Close met the proprietors through a mutual friend and became a fan on her first visit.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proprietor
Cite this Entry
“Proprietor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietor. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
proprietor
noun
pro·pri·e·tor
prə-ˈprī-ə-tər
: one who has legal right or exclusive title to something : owner
also
: one (as a lessee) having an interest (as control or present use) less than absolute or exclusive right
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