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

"It had an impact on me, on my way of looking at the world. How you can take risks, be an entrepreneur, and be positive about the future."

Read more on BBC

Rogers told the audience of a recent conversation with a software entrepreneur who developed an education platform, which she argued epitomized Canada’s complacency.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

You never know who or how the poorest refugee or migrant might blossom into a world-class scientist or entrepreneur.

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For every Holmes, there are entrepreneurs prone to stretching the truth who are celebrated instead of sitting in prison.

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These emerging septuagenarian entrepreneurs share many motives with younger counterparts.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• administrator 
• contractor 
• executive 
• manager 
• producer