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

Last year, the city's request for proposals seeking a restaurateur for the building received zero responses, Fava says. —Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024

Other cast members include businesswoman and podcast host Brittany Eady, restaurateur and Food Network alum Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley, wife of NBA great Charles Oakley. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024

Advertisement The other 18 grantees include Damian Clopton, a Sonoma County restaurateur who expressed deep gratitude to Newsom for signing his pardon. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024

Elsewhere, chef and restaurateur Jason Dady will be opening Mexico Ceaty in early 2025, overhauling a food court to create a dining destination that highlights Mexican cuisine. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

restaurateur

noun

res·​tau·​ra·​teur ˌres-tə-rə-ˈtər 

variants also restauranteur

-ˌrän- 

: a person who owns or runs a restaurant