raconteur

[ rak-uhn-tur; French ra-kawn-tœr ]
See synonyms for raconteur on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural rac·on·teurs [rak-uhn-turz; French ra-kawn-tœr]. /ˌræk ənˈtɜrz; French ra kɔ̃ˈtœr/.
  1. a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

Origin of raconteur

1
1820–30; <French, equivalent to racont(er) to tell (Old French r(e)-re- + aconter to tell, account) + -eur-eur

Words Nearby raconteur

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use raconteur in a sentence

  • He is a raconteur extraordinaire and an interview with the dogged reporter can rapidly turn into a delicious gabfest.

    Celebrity Hit Man | Sandra McElwaine | August 7, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • A true daughter of Erin, she excels as a raconteur, nor does her philanthropy confine itself to the human race.

  • Thus supported, Mr. Pilcher assumed the ease of a graceful raconteur.

    Gabriel Conroy | Bert Harte
  • As a raconteur he stands almost unrivalled, and his powers of mimicry are in themselves sufficient to justify a career.

    Theodor Leschetizky | Annette Hullah
  • He was a boon companion, a delightful raconteur when at the club, and a jovial, roystering Bohemian when he left it.

    Dickens and His Illustrators | Frederic G. Kitton
  • It shall be my aim as far as may be to avoid the garrulity of the raconteur and to restrain the exaggerations of the ego.

    Marse Henry (Vol. 1) | Henry Watterson

British Dictionary definitions for raconteur

raconteur

/ (ˌrækɒnˈtɜː) /


noun
  1. a person skilled in telling stories

Origin of raconteur

1
C19: French, from raconter to tell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012