entrepreneur

noun

en·​tre·​pre·​neur ˌän-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər How to pronounce entrepreneur (audio)
-ˈn(y)u̇r,
ˌäⁿn-
: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
entrepreneurship
ˌän-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər-ˌship
-ˈn(y)u̇r- How to pronounce entrepreneur (audio)
ˌäⁿn-
noun

Did you know?

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 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from entreprendre to undertake — more at enterprise

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of entrepreneur was in 1762

Dictionary Entries Near entrepreneur

Cite this Entry

“Entrepreneur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrepreneur. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

entrepreneur

noun
en·​tre·​pre·​neur ˌän-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər How to pronounce entrepreneur (audio)
-ˈn(y)u̇r
: one who organizes, manages, and takes on the risks of a business or enterprise
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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