entrepreneur

noun

en·tre·pre·neur ˌän-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər

-ˈn(y)u̇r,

ˌäⁿn-

Synonyms of entrepreneur next

: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise

entrepreneurship

ˌän-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər-ˌship

-ˈn(y)u̇r-

ˌäⁿn-

noun

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The Characteristics of an Entrepreneur

You might well wonder whether entrepreneur simply means “a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money” or whether it carries an additional connotation of far-sightedness and innovation. The answer, perhaps unsatisfyingly, is that it can go in either direction.

Entrepreneur has been used in English to refer to a kind of businessman since at least the middle of the 18th century, when it appeared in translation of the King of Prussia’s instructions for his generals (“. . . if the country happens not to abound in forage, you must agree with some Entrepreneur for the quantity required.”). During the 19th century, it was also used of a go-between or a person who undertakes any kind of activity (as opposed to just a business).

By the early 20th century entrepreneur appears to have taken on the connotation of go-getter when applied to an independent business owner, a quality that may also be found in the phrase entrepreneurial spirit, which began being used at about the same time.

Examples of entrepreneur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Alan Schoff: Schoff is a freelance creative director, arts advocate and entrepreneur who hosts Sideshow Indy, a pop-up art gallery space that organizes art exhibits and art engagement programs throughout Indianapolis. —

Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024 But other British entrepreneurs have joined Dyson in criticising the changes. —

Marc Shoffman, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024 Numerous venture capital firms were established and managed by technology entrepreneurs who made millions of dollars from their successful tech enterprises that ultimately went public. —

Tim Bajarin, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 These roles might include a manager at work, entrepreneur, teacher, member of a school board, and neighborhood organizer, for example. —

Allison Torres Burtka, Parents, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for entrepreneur