employer

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

employer
    n 1: a person or firm that employs workers [ant: {employee}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Employer \Em*ploy"er\, n.
   One who employs another; as, an employer of workmen.
   [1913 Webster]

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

EMPLOYER. One who has engaged or hired the services of another. He is 
entitled to rights and bound to perform duties. 
     2.-1. His rights are, to be served according to the terms of the 
contract. 2. He has a right against third persons for an injury to the 
person employed, or for harboring him, so as to deprive the employer of his 
services. 2 Bouv. Inst. n. 2295. 
     3. His duties are to pay the workman the compensation agreed upon, or 
if there be no special agreement, such just recompense as he deserves. Vide 
Hire; Hirer.

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

44 Moby Thesaurus words for "employer":
      boss, business, bwana, chef, chief, church dignitary, company,
      consumer, corporation, director, ecclesiarch, elder, enjoyer,
      establishment, firm, gaffer, goodman, governor, guru, head,
      husband, liege, liege lord, lord, lord paramount, manager, master,
      organization, outfit, overlord, owner, padrone, paramount,
      paterfamilias, patriarch, patron, proprietor, rabbi, sahib,
      seigneur, seignior, starets, teacher, user