Owners or managers of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative. A term originally borrowed from the French and first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon, has grown into broader use.

Entrepreneur in English refers to a person who is willing to help launch a new venture or enterprise and accept full responsibility for the outcome. French economist Jean-Baptiste Say, who first coined the word in the 19th century, defined an entrepreneur as "one who undertakes an enterprise, especially a contractor, acting as intermediatory between capital and labour".