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; see enterprise

Explanation

An entrepreneur is someone who starts a new business. Little stores and huge companies both have entrepreneurs behind them. Do you have good ideas for products? Are you OK with the idea of risk? Then maybe you should be an entrepreneur. This is someone who founds a business, whether a tiny one or a huge one. Besides starting the business, the entrepreneur takes on the most of the risk by investing their own money and/or bringing in other investors. For an entrepreneur, their business is their baby.

Example Sentences

Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980, has died at the age of 87, the network said Wednesday.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Brad Jacobs is a serial entrepreneur with a notable track record as a Wall Street investor and business builder.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

That’s how Johnson came to own 2.5% of Sandman; his co-owners include entrepreneur and prolific racehorse owner Leonard C. Green and Vincent Viola, owner of the Florida Panthers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Brandon Riker, a Palm Springs entrepreneur and economist, has emerged as the best-funded Democrat in the field and has financed much of his own campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“We’ve also gotten a call from an entrepreneur in Texas who wants to talk to you about the possibility of opening nationwide franchises.”

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• administrator
• contractor
• executive
• manager
• producer