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

• entrepreneurship noun
• entrepreneurial adjective

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

She is an entrepreneur whose firm invests in businesses that provide services and work with, or compete against, local government.

From BBC

The entrepreneur said she hadn't had the term directed at her for 25 years.

From BBC

Two years ago, in a case that shocked the nation, a young entrepreneur died after setting himself on fire outside parliament.

From BBC

Two weeks ago social entrepreneur Kevin Green refused to accept the trophy on behalf of Port Glasgow, denouncing it as "poverty tourism" which failed to reflect the Inverclyde town's "punching up, not punching down" spirit.

From BBC

His grieving widow, Erika, was fundraising off of his death before being named his successor at Turning Point USA, the conservative nonprofit he founded with entrepreneur and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery.

From Salon

Related Words

• administrator 
• contractor 
• executive 
• manager 
• producer