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entrepreneur

Etymology and origin of the French word entrepreneur

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1253–89, Pierre de Fontaines
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French entrepreneur
English entrepreneur

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɑ̃.tʁə.pʁə.nœʁ/[1]

Forms

entrepreneur m (plural entrepreneurs, feminine entrepreneuse)[1]

Etymology

It is derived from entreprendre, from the stem of its present participle, with the agent suffix -eur.[2][3] An isolated entreprendeeur is found in the 13th century, beside the forms empreneeur (about 1283, Beaumanoir) and emprendeur (late 14th century, Froissart) from the related verb emprendre;[2] the modern form appears in 1422.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Pierre de Fontaines' Conseil (1253–89) has entreprendeeurs; in 1422 Alain Chartier's Quadrilogue invectif speaks of vaillans entrepreneurs, those who take part in a bold action.[2] At first the word meant someone who undertakes something.[4]

Semantic evolution

In the 15th century it was said of the challengers who undertook a feat of arms, as in Jehan de Saintré, and of conspirators, as in Commynes.[3] The sense of a person who undertakes to carry out a piece of work, especially building, is recorded by Cotgrave in 1611.[2][4][5] The modern sense of a person who runs a business appeared in the early 19th century under the influence of entreprise, and in the 20th century the word took broader connotations than chef d'entreprise, especially in liberal economics.[4] The general sense “one who undertakes” has become dated.[4][2]

English had entreprenour in the late 15th century but did not keep it; English entrepreneur was borrowed again in 1828, first for the manager of a theatrical production, and for a business manager from 1852.[6]

Timeline

  • 1253–89 – Entreprendeeurs appears in Pierre de Fontaines.[2]
  • c. 1283 – Beaumanoir uses the variant empreneeur.[2][4]
  • 1422 – The modern form appears in Alain Chartier.[2][4]
  • 1611 – Cotgrave records the sense “contractor for building or other work”.[2][5]
  • 1828 – English borrows the word again.[6]
  • 1848 – The derivative sous-entrepreneur “subcontractor” is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (dated) A person who undertakes something.[2][7]
  2. A contractor, especially in building: a person or firm that carries out works under contract.[7][8]
  3. A person who runs a business; a business founder, an entrepreneur.[7][9]
  4. (law) The party to a contract who undertakes to carry out the work for the client.[8][10]

Word family

  • entrepreneuriat
  • entrepreneurial
  • sous-entrepreneur

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Cotgrave, Randle (1611), A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: Adam Islip
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Entrepreneur.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/entrepreneur. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·