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entrepreneur

n.
US //ˌɑntɹəpɹəˈnɝ// UK //ˌɒntɹɪpɹɪnˈɜː// en·tre·pre·neur
  1. 1 business founder (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Business

    someone who starts a new business and takes risks to make it successful.

    an individual who initiates, manages, and assumes the risks of a business enterprise.

    Example

    The young entrepreneur started her first tech company while still at university.

    Example

    The venture capital firm is looking for a visionary entrepreneur who can demonstrate both technical expertise and a viable path to profitability.
    Pitfall
    He is a successful entrepeneur.
    He is a successful entrepreneur.

    The spelling is tricky because it comes from French; remember the 're' at the end and the 'eur' suffix.

  2. 2 entertainment manager (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Theatre

    a person who organises concerts, plays, or other public shows.

    a person who organises and manages public entertainments, such as concerts or theatrical productions.

    Example

    In the 1800s, a famous entrepreneur brought the opera company to the city.

    Example

    The nineteenth-century entrepreneur was responsible for coordinating the entire seasonal programme, from hiring the lead soprano to securing the venue.
Origin

Borrowed from French entrepreneur (“one who undertakes or manages”), from Middle French entrepreneur, from entreprendre (“to undertake”) + -eur.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Last updated June 20, 2026