Restauranteurs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who owns or manages a business that serves food and beverages to customers in a dining setting
2. A person involved in the ownership or management of an establishment that offers meals and drinks to patrons
3. Someone responsible for the operation and administration of a venue that caters to dining and social gatherings

Etymology: "Restauranteurs" is the plural of "restauranteur", a word that exists mainly because two similar-looking words got tangled together. The older and more established term is "restaurateur", borrowed from French, where it describes a person who runs a restaurant. "Restaurant" is the source of the other half of the blend, and the mix-up is a common one: speakers reach for the spelling that sounds like "restaurant" plus a familiar ending, producing a hybrid that many dictionaries treat as a variant rather than a separate word. The plural form simply follows the same pattern as its singular, adding an "s" to the end. Because it is a blend, it is best understood as a spelling variant of "restaurateurs", which carries the standard French-derived form. Editors and style guides generally prefer the older spelling in formal writing, though the blended form turns up often in casual speech and print.

Synonyms: restaurant owners, caterers