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Definition of proprietress

proprietress

/prəˈpraɪətrəs/
pro · pri · e · tress
Plural:proprietresses
•
Adjective:proprietary
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proprietress Lexical Profile

proprietress Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A female owner or manager of a business, hotel, boarding house, or other commercial establishment.

Example

"The welcoming proprietress of the seaside inn greeted every guest personally upon arrival."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for proprietress
Antonyms
View all antonyms for proprietress

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary usage, the gender-neutral terms 'proprietor' or 'owner' are generally preferred over 'proprietress', which is often perceived as dated or overly formal.

• Nearby Words

proprietary
proprietor
proprietorship
proprietress
proprietrix
propriety
props

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-17th century from 'proprietor' combined with the feminine suffix '-ess', ultimately tracing back to Late Latin 'proprietarius' (owner of property), from Latin 'proprietas' (ownership).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Proprietress. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/proprietress
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