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Meaning & use

owner

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈəʊnə/
US/ˈoʊnɚ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    Someone to whom a thing legally belongs, such as a house, a car, a shop or a pet.

    Grammar: Often followed by of: the owner of the building; or used as a modifier: a dog owner.

    Patterns

    • the owner of something
    • owner of a something
    • a something owner

    The owner of the bakery greets every customer by name.

    Please contact the owner of the red car parked outside.

    Each dog owner must keep the animal on a lead in the park.

  2. nouncountable

    A person who runs and holds the main stake in a business, especially a small one.

    Grammar: Often used for a restaurant, club or team: the team owner; compare with employee.

    Patterns

    • the owner of a business
    • a business owner

    The restaurant owner hired two new cooks this spring.

    As a small business owner, she works long hours.

Word forms

pluralowners

Common combinations

proud owner
He is now the proud owner of a vintage motorbike.
previous owner
The previous owner left a note inside the cupboard.
rightful owner
The wallet was returned to its rightful owner.
homeowner
The new tax will affect every homeowner in the district.
business owner
The business owner offered free coffee to everyone in line.
sole owner
She became the sole owner after buying out her partner.

Synonyms and how they differ

proprietor
Proprietor is more formal and normally refers to the owner of a shop, hotel or similar business, not a pet or car.
possessor
Possessor stresses having something, perhaps a quality or skill, without necessarily holding legal title.
holder
Holder suggests someone who has a right, title or document for a limited time, while an owner has full ownership.
keeper
Keeper emphasizes looking after something, such as an animal or a shop, and does not require legal ownership.

Opposites

tenantrenter

Word family

own verb
to have something as your property
ownership noun
the fact of owning something
co-owner noun
a person who owns something jointly with others
owned adjective
belonging to a person or group, as in family-owned

Commonly confused: owner or own?

owner vs own

Own is the verb or adjective, not a person. Say 'the owner of the shop', not 'the own of the shop'.

Practice

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