concessionaire

Also con·ces·sion·er

[kuhn-sesh-uh-nair]

noun

1. a person, group, or company to whom a concession has been granted, especially to operate a subsidiary business or service.

   a popcorn concessionaire at a baseball park.

concessionaire

/ kənˌsɛʃəˈnɛə, kənˈsɛʃənə /

noun

1. someone who holds or operates a concession

Other Word Forms

• subconcessionaire noun
• subconcessioner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of concessionaire¹

From the French word concessionnaire, dating back to 1860–65. See concession, -aire

Example Sentences

Anna Aulick was working the clerk’s window in the late 1950s when she met Albert Reynolds, a Standard Oil concessionaire from Montreal.

From Los Angeles Times

Business leaders said the wage increases — coupled with the new or increased healthcare payments — would wreak havoc on the city’s hotels and LAX concessionaires.

From Los Angeles Times

Eight years later, a private concessionaire is working to recover the aquatic ecosystem in Rio’s western zone.

From Seattle Times

There is no set schedule for these concessionaires — everything depends on attendance.

From Seattle Times

During Carnival festivities in February, the Waters of Rio concessionaire distributed water at the Sambadrome, where dancers in heavy costumes parade alongside gigantic floats.

From Seattle Times