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

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

Eventually, in 2008, Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing moved to Long Island City, after its proprietress faced fines of $1,000 a day if she did not vacate her existing space.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2022

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

The large proprietress in a butcher’s apron came out of the kitchen lugging tubs full of more black gelatin.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston