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
For now, at least, the proprietors seemed unconcerned about their guest’s ability to meet his obligations.
—
Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Five years after the crash, the proprietor of Donna Blue, Joao Luiz Malago, a stout, balding Brazilian national in his early fifties, appeared at a bond hearing in Miami, though not specifically because of the Gulfstream.
—Penn Bullock, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2024
This Fall Despite Ethical Concerns and Ongoing Lawsuits One person said the plans were discussed at the highest level of the Standard and in consultation with Lord Lebedev, the newspaper’s proprietor.
—Jake Kanter For Deadline, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2024
Chef-owner Crista Luedtke is also the proprietor of the Boon Hotel + Spa, which offers mid-century-style fireplace suites, luxury glamping tents, and one gleamingly cute vintage camper built for two.
—Leilani Marie Labong, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proprietor 
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Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Five years after the crash, the proprietor of Donna Blue, Joao Luiz Malago, a stout, balding Brazilian national in his early fifties, appeared at a bond hearing in Miami, though not specifically because of the Gulfstream.
—Penn Bullock, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2024
This Fall Despite Ethical Concerns and Ongoing Lawsuits One person said the plans were discussed at the highest level of the Standard and in consultation with Lord Lebedev, the newspaper’s proprietor.
—Jake Kanter For Deadline, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2024
Chef-owner Crista Luedtke is also the proprietor of the Boon Hotel + Spa, which offers mid-century-style fireplace suites, luxury glamping tents, and one gleamingly cute vintage camper built for two.
—Leilani Marie Labong, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proprietor
Dictionary Entries Near proprietor
Cite this Entry
“Proprietor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proprietor. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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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