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

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The first step to becoming a successful entrepreneur is identifying a mission that reflects your core values. —

Guadalupe Hayes-Mota, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 The singer-songwriter, reality TV personality, actress, entrepreneur, and mom has lost a considerable amount of weight this year, and fans have taken notice. —

Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 23 Oct. 2024 Crypto groups have dropped over $40 million while aiming for a two-fer: helping Moreno (a blockchain entrepreneur) to defeat Brown (an industry critic). —

Tyler Buchanan, Axios, 23 Oct. 2024 The format sees inventors, creators and entrepreneurs pitch their products in front of a large audience and a trio of professional buyers. —

Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for entrepreneur