entrepreneur

American  

[ahn-truh-pruh-nur, -noor, ahn-truh-pruh-nœr] / ˌɑn trə prəˈnɜr, -ˈnʊər, ɑ̃ trə prəˈnœr /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to deal with or initiate as an entrepreneur.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as an entrepreneur.

entrepreneur British  

/ 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

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entrepreneur Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• entrepreneurial adjective
• entrepreneurship noun

Etymology

Origin of entrepreneur

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

Example Sentences

The cookbook author and entrepreneur, 37, was forced to reassess her relationship to material items as well as to food and cooking.

From The Wall Street Journal

“My dad’s an entrepreneur. Well, he used to be. Anyway, I think I have good business sense. Like, I’m good at marketing and stuff. Or I would be.”

From Literature

Opponents warn it would kill the innovation that has made the state rich and prompt an exodus of wealthy entrepreneurs.

From Los Angeles Times

The entrepreneur hosted parties at a mansion in Beverly Hills and boasted about the black Lamborghini in his garage.

From The Wall Street Journal

Grimes, for his part, spent years developing a relationship with Musk, becoming one of the few bankers the erratic entrepreneur “tolerates,” according to a SpaceX investor who knows both men.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• administrator
• contractor
• executive
• manager
• producer