entrepreneur

[ahn-truh-pruh-nur, -noor, ahn-truh-pruh-nœr]

noun

plural

entrepreneurs 

1. a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.

2. an employer of productive labor; contractor.

verb (used with object)

1. to deal with or initiate as an entrepreneur.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as an entrepreneur.

entrepreneur

/ ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː, ɑ̃trəprənœr /

noun

1. the owner or manager of a business enterprise who, by risk and initiative, attempts to make profits

2. a middleman or commercial intermediary

entrepreneur

1. One who starts a business or other venture that promises economic gain but that also entails risks.

Other Word Forms

• entrepreneurial adjective
• entrepreneurship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of entrepreneur¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from French: literally, “one who undertakes (some task),” equivalent to entrepren(dre) “to undertake” (from Latin inter- inter- + prendere “to take,” variant of prehendere ) + -eur -eur; enterprise

Word History and Origins

Origin of entrepreneur¹

C19: from French, from entreprendre to undertake; see _enterprise

Example Sentences

Williams also details her robust philanthropic goals, including mentoring other Black entrepreneurs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

During an interview with Fox News, the president said this would allow American consumers to be more like "entrepreneurs" and "go out and negotiate their own insurance".

Read more on BBC

Democratic socialism is all about taxing successful entrepreneurs and running out of other people’s money; democratic capitalism is all about increasing profit margins, sharing the wealth and growing prosperous together.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the time of her arrest, Qian denied all charges, claiming she was simply fleeing a Chinese government crackdown on crypto entrepreneurs, and disputing evidence presented by the Chinese police.

Read more on BBC

She described her brother as bright, full of energy and a natural entrepreneur who had studied law at college and aspired to follow his great grandfather into a career in the Army.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• administrator 
• contractor 
• executive 
• manager 
• producer