proprietress
Americannoun
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a woman who owns a business establishment.
-
a woman who has the exclusive right or title to something.
Gender
See -ess.
Etymology
Origin of proprietress
First recorded in 1685–95; propriet(o)r + -ess
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
It’s what’s for dinner in Juzo Itami’s delightful 1985 comedy about the proprietress of a rundown roadside noodle shop.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2022
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
There’s an uncomfortable scene in “Samurai Gourmet” when the protagonist can’t muster the courage to tell the intimidating proprietress of a Chinese restaurant that the heartless bowl of noodles she served him is bad.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2018
“But our customers like it,” says the proprietress.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
