proprietor

Everyday

1. (formal) The owner of a business, such as a shop, hotel, restaurant or newspaper. tree →
2. An owner of property. tree →

In the lessons

On shop signs and in stories: «J. Smith, Proprietor». In everyday speech people say «owner». In maths business problems the proprietor buys and sells items, works out profit and pays staff. Phrases: «the proprietor of», «sole proprietor».

Examples

• The proprietor of the café gave us free cookies. tree →
• Ask the proprietor if we can leave our bikes here. tree →
• The hotel proprietor greeted the guests. tree →
• The sign said «Mrs Patel, Proprietor». tree →
• The proprietor buys apples at 20p and sells them at 35p. tree →
• The shop's proprietor closed early on Sunday. tree →
• He had all his company with him in a large box, for he was the proprietor of a puppet-show. tree →

Note

Countable: proprietors. Formal; everyday word: owner. Related: property, proprietary. Spelling: pro-PRI-e-tor.