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

At the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School, the dean liked me and thought I could be a successful entrepreneur.

From The Wall Street Journal

The man who made his mark as a fighter and a minister, a pitchman and an entrepreneur was always coming back for more.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 47-year-old entrepreneur says he has built and sold a dozen houses, and rents out several he owns.

From The Wall Street Journal

The profile listed the donor as a brown-haired, brown-eyed Russian programmer and entrepreneur who studied multiple languages.

From The Wall Street Journal

For Weiss, it’s perilous situation as her every move as a digital media entrepreneur with no experience in television is being closely scrutinized.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator
• contractor
• executive
• manager
• producer