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
Across the street, the proprietors of Grosvenor Square are similarly aware of the tug between past and present.
—
Mark Landler, New York Times, 7 June 2025
There’s a proud tradition of Bravo stars promoting businesses that never come to fruition beyond a story line, meaning Radke has more to prove than the average proprietor.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 June 2025
And, Christopher Jackson, proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, is working with Katz on a special winemaking project called Prophet and Poet; the 2021 releases just made their debut.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
More than 100 firefighters descended on the celebrity hotspot in Marylebone, owned by Chateau Marmont proprietor André Balazs.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for proprietor
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Mark Landler, New York Times, 7 June 2025
There’s a proud tradition of Bravo stars promoting businesses that never come to fruition beyond a story line, meaning Radke has more to prove than the average proprietor.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 June 2025
And, Christopher Jackson, proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, is working with Katz on a special winemaking project called Prophet and Poet; the 2021 releases just made their debut.
—Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
More than 100 firefighters descended on the celebrity hotspot in Marylebone, owned by Chateau Marmont proprietor André Balazs.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 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 18 Jun. 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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