entrepreneur
on-truh-pruh-NUR
Entrepreneur (noun) means a person who starts and runs a business, taking on its financial risk. Example: “As an entrepreneur, she often works late to grow her bakery.”
noun
1
A person who starts and runs a business, taking on its financial risk.
"As an entrepreneur, she often works late to grow her bakery."
"The young entrepreneur launched three startups before turning thirty."
"Local banks offer small loans to help entrepreneurs get started."
How to use entrepreneur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who builds and runs their own business, taking on the risk that comes with it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a successful entrepreneur
young entrepreneur
entrepreneur and investor
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Word forms
- Plural
- entrepreneurs
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As an _____, she often works late to grow her bakery.
Etymology
Borrowed from French entrepreneur, from entreprendre, "to undertake."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for entrepreneur
See all rhymes for entrepreneur →Frequently asked questions
What does “entrepreneur” mean?
The word “entrepreneur” means a person who starts and runs a business, taking on its financial risk. In plain terms, someone who builds and runs their own business, taking on the risk that comes with it.
How do you pronounce “entrepreneur”?
“Entrepreneur” is pronounced on-truh-pruh-NUR (/ˌɑn.tɹə.pɹəˈnɝ/ in IPA).
How do you use “entrepreneur” in a sentence?
Here is “entrepreneur” used in a sentence: “The young entrepreneur launched three startups before turning thirty.”
What part of speech is “entrepreneur”?
“Entrepreneur” is a noun.
Where does the word “entrepreneur” come from?
The word “entrepreneur” comes from French. Borrowed from French entrepreneur, from entreprendre, "to undertake.".
Is “entrepreneur” a common word?
“Entrepreneur” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between an entrepreneur and a business owner?
An entrepreneur starts a business and personally shoulders its financial risk. A business owner is anyone who owns a business, however they came by it — founding, buying, or inheriting it. "Entrepreneur" carries an extra sense of risk-taking and building something from scratch.
What is the difference between an entrepreneur and a founder?
A founder is defined by one event: establishing a company. An entrepreneur is defined by an ongoing activity: starting and running businesses while carrying their financial risk. A founder who sells up and never launches anything again remains a founder, while a serial entrepreneur keeps founding.
Why is entrepreneur so difficult to spell?
English borrowed the word directly from French and kept the French spelling, including the -eur ending and the -pre- syllable in the middle that writers often drop. Common misspellings include "entrepenur" and "entreprenuer"; breaking it into entre-pre-neur helps.
What is the difference between an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur?
An entrepreneur builds a business of their own and bears its financial risk. An intrapreneur behaves entrepreneurially inside a company they do not own, developing new products or ventures with the employer's resources and far less personal risk.
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