enterprise

noun

en·​ter·​prise ˈen-tər-ˌprīz 

ˈen-tə-ˌprīz

1

: a project or undertaking that is especially difficult, complicated, or risky

2

a

: a unit of economic organization or activity

especially : a business organization

b

: a systematic purposeful activity

agriculture is the main economic enterprise among these people

3

: readiness to engage in daring or difficult action : initiative

showed great enterprise in dealing with the crisis

Synonyms

• business
• company
• concern
• establishment
• firm
• house
• interest
• outfit

Examples of enterprise in a Sentence

Moving the drilling rig offshore was a costly enterprise.

Agriculture is the main economic enterprise among these people.

When he purchased the company it was a thriving commercial enterprise.

He was criticized for his lack of enterprise in dealing with the crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

The number of minority and women-owned business enterprises that registered with the city also saw a significant increase in 2024, making up 52.8% of the registrations, compared to 1.8% of registrations in 2023, which was one of the goals of the pilot, the presentation said. —R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025

He was convicted in 2015 on seven counts related to the site, including distributing narcotics on the Internet and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. —Brett Samuels, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025

In 2015, Ulbricht was handed a life sentence for his involvement in the enterprise and is currently incarcerated at a high-security penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona. —Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

Lark is an enterprise collaboration platform, released in 2019. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from entreprendre to undertake, from entre- inter- + prendre to take — more at prize

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing enterprise

• enterprise zone
• free enterprise
• private enterprise

Kids Definition

enterprise

noun

en·​ter·​prise ˈent-ə(r)-ˌprīz 

1

: a difficult, complicated, or risky project or undertaking

2

: readiness to engage in daring or difficult action

showed great enterprise in the face of danger

3

: a business organization

enterpriser

-ˌprī-zər

noun

Legal Definition

enterprise

noun

en·​ter·​prise ˈen-tər-ˌprīz 

: an economic organization or activity

especially : a business organization