proprietress
Americannoun
-
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
When Ady and Sanite are separated, Ady meets Lenore, proprietress of the Mockingbird Inn.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2024
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
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
When I returned to the dining room, I approached the proprietress, Ngawang Doka, to ask for a beer.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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.
