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
But perhaps more troubling is that Google, the proprietor of the world’s primary research tool, has rolled out AI Overviews that can indiscriminately take in fake material and authoritatively spit it back out as real.
—
Justin Elliott,
ProPublica,
2 July 2026
Right nearby is the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, which operated pre-Revolutionary War, before its proprietor took off to join the cause.
—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
This injection of cash was largely driven by gains in private wages and salaries alongside a boost in farm proprietors’ income, which was influenced by a second round of USDA Supplemental Disaster Relief payments, the BEA said.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
25 June 2026
In 2024, the state ranked 42nd in the nation based on wages and other earnings like proprietors' income, dividends and government benefits.
—
Chloe Bennett-Steele,
StateImpact,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for proprietor
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Justin Elliott,
ProPublica,
2 July 2026
Right nearby is the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, which operated pre-Revolutionary War, before its proprietor took off to join the cause.
—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
This injection of cash was largely driven by gains in private wages and salaries alongside a boost in farm proprietors’ income, which was influenced by a second round of USDA Supplemental Disaster Relief payments, the BEA said.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
25 June 2026
In 2024, the state ranked 42nd in the nation based on wages and other earnings like proprietors' income, dividends and government benefits.
—
Chloe Bennett-Steele,
StateImpact,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for proprietor
Cite this Entry
“Proprietor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietor. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
