restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌre-stə-rə-ˈtər 

variants or less commonly restauranteur

ˌre-stə-ˌrän-ˈtər 

: the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

Did you know?

Restaurateur Has French Roots

Restaurateur and restaurant are French words from Latin restaurare, meaning "to restore." Of the two words, restaurant is more common—a fact that may have influenced the development of the variant spelling restauranteur for restaurateur. Some people consider restauranteur to be an error, but it is still on the menu as an acceptable word choice.

Examples of restaurateur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tiana is described as a musical comedy starring the original film’s beloved restaurateur. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 3 Mar. 2025

Case in point: Last September, restaurateurs Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown almost lost a rezoning battle to save a 1903 building in Dilworth — a neighborhood that prides itself on its history — after neighbors argued the preservation project would worsen the parking situation. —Alexandria Sands, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025

Luis Giraldo Ingram is a third-generation restaurateur. —Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2025

Some restaurateurs believe smaller businesses may have an advantage in adapting to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences. —Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French restaurateur, from Late Latin restaurator restorer, from Latin restaurare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for restaurateur

• entrepreneur
• amateur
• connoisseur
• kieselguhr
• monseigneur
• procureur
• retransfer
• saboteur
• silencer
• voyageur
• birr
• blur

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Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant