raconteur

[ rak-uhn-tur; French ra-kawn-tœr ]

/ ˌræk ənˈtɜr; French ra kɔ̃ˈtœr /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for raconteur on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural rac·on·teurs

[rak-uhn-turz; French ra-kawn-tœr]. /ˌræk ənˈtɜrz; French ra kɔ̃ˈtœr/.

a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of raconteur

1820–30; <French, equivalent to racont(er) to tell (Old French r(e)-re- + aconter to tell, account) + -eur-eur

Words nearby raconteur

rack saw, rack up, rackwork, raclette, racon, raconteur, raconteuse, racoon, RACQ, racquet, racquetball

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use raconteur in a sentence

The characters were raconteurs who couldn’t help mythologizing their youth, their city and their relationships.
I never thought I’d miss ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ Then I saw ‘How I Met Your Father.’|Inkoo Kang|January 17, 2022|Washington Post
He was a well-known raconteur, and some of his stories were widely known and repeated--often by him.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She describes him as a raconteur and voracious reader of history and current affairs.
The Seven Foot Philanthropist|Sandra McElwaine|June 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He was a brilliant lawyer, a great raconteur, and he had a wicked sense of humor—but unethical?
Polanski's Lost Alibi|Marcia Clark|September 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Like Beck, Jones is a raconteur with a penchant for dramatizing things to comic effect.
Leave Van Jones Alone|Reihan Salam|September 8, 2009|DAILY BEAST
He is a raconteur extraordinaire and an interview with the dogged reporter can rapidly turn into a delicious gabfest.
Celebrity Hit Man|Sandra McElwaine|August 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
A true daughter of Erin, she excels as a raconteur, nor does her philanthropy confine itself to the human race.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 86, December, 1864|Various
Thus supported, Mr. Pilcher assumed the ease of a graceful raconteur.
Gabriel Conroy|Bert Harte
As a raconteur he stands almost unrivalled, and his powers of mimicry are in themselves sufficient to justify a career.
Theodor Leschetizky|Annette Hullah
He was a boon companion, a delightful raconteur when at the club, and a jovial, roystering Bohemian when he left it.
Dickens and His Illustrators|Frederic G. Kitton
It shall be my aim as far as may be to avoid the garrulity of the raconteur and to restrain the exaggerations of the ego.
Marse Henry (Vol. 1)|Henry Watterson

British Dictionary definitions for raconteur

raconteur

/ (ˌrækɒnˈtɜː) /

noun

a person skilled in telling stories

Word Origin for raconteur

C19: French, from raconter to tell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

raconteur

Origin of raconteur

Words nearby raconteur

Words related to raconteur

How to use raconteur in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for raconteur

Word Origin for raconteur