proprietress

American  

[pruh-prahy-i-tris] / prəˈpraɪ ɪ trɪs /

noun

1. a woman who owns a business establishment.

2. a woman who has the exclusive right or title to something.

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of proprietress

First recorded in 1685–95; propriet(o)r + -ess

Example Sentences

In counterpoint to the expanding mystery, much of which revolves around a seedy bar named the Birdhouse, is Graham’s cautious courting of the proprietress of a popular bakery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Farther down Tsentralna, at the Flower Cafe — which sells plants and bouquets as well as food — proprietress Tetiana Lytvynenko, 33, was serving up paninis and coffee.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2022

The cast is undeniably B-list, and genre conventions cling to their roles like barnacles: the world-weary but wise cafe proprietress, the hooker with a heart of gold.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2020

Allan said Theatre’s turned out to be an Irish pub, with wonderful food and a lovely proprietress who was very kind to the awkward young American.

From Washington Post • Oct. 15, 2019

An old man at one of the tables clapped feebly, and Ignatius peered over the rim of the stage and saw that the proprietress was gone.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole