entrepreneur
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
Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025
Founded in 2006, the Pattison Developments firm is a unit of Jim Pattison Group, an eponymous conglomerate that business entrepreneur Jim Pattison established in 1961.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
The ship’s passengers came from all rungs of Victoria society, including bankers, entrepreneurs, socialites, entertainers, miners and immigrant laborers.
—Joel Sams, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
Newmann, who lives in Hinsdale, is an animator and entrepreneur.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Entrepreneur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrepreneur. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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entrepreneur
noun
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