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

California is still a magnet for the ambitious entrepreneur, and the drafters of the initiative have tried to preserve its allure.

From Los Angeles Times

Means is best known as a wellness influencer, author and entrepreneur, as well as running a company that sells glucose monitoring systems.

From Salon

“When you’re at work, your boss is more composed. We’re talking strictly business,” said Brown, now a content creator and entrepreneur.

From The Wall Street Journal

But there's growing global demand for the flower, which is attracting entrepreneurs in India.

From BBC

The entrepreneur told reporters after the auction that he was "surprised at the price", AFP reported.

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator
• contractor
• executive
• manager
• producer