proprietor

/prəˈpraɪətər/ (American pronunciation)

Origin

From Latin "proprietarius," derived from "proprietas" meaning "ownership"

Meanings

1. The owner of a business, property, or establishment
2. A person who has legal right or exclusive ownership of something

Example Sentences

1. The proprietor of the small bookstore greeted customers personally each day.
2. As the proprietor of the restaurant, she made all the important business decisions.
3. The new proprietor implemented several changes to improve the hotel's services.

Related Words

• Different forms:
  • proprietary (adjective)
  • proprietorship (noun)
  • proprietorial (adjective)
• Synonyms:
  • owner
  • landlord
  • possessor
  • keeper
  • manager

Memorization Trick

Think of a "proprietor" as a "proper owner" - someone who properly owns and manages a business or property. The "proper" in proprietor can remind you of the ownership aspect.