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
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
Do these pictures stealthily undermine that brand of autocracy because Foto Estudio Luisita was a feminist enterprise where women made images of women?
—
Bryan Barcena, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
The company embraced enterprise software like no other.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
Public resources can help unlock that process, but job creation at scale depends on the private sector — especially micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises that generate most employment.
—Ajaypal Banga, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
The designation, which Anthropic will fight in court, could become a serious problem for the startup, which earns its revenue through enterprise software sales to companies that might currently or one day want to work with the military in some capacity.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enterprise
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Bryan Barcena, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
The company embraced enterprise software like no other.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
Public resources can help unlock that process, but job creation at scale depends on the private sector — especially micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises that generate most employment.
—Ajaypal Banga, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
The designation, which Anthropic will fight in court, could become a serious problem for the startup, which earns its revenue through enterprise software sales to companies that might currently or one day want to work with the military in some capacity.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enterprise
Cite this Entry
“Enterprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enterprise. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˌprī-zər
Legal Definition
enterprise
noun
en·ter·prise
ˈen-tər-ˌprīz
: an economic organization or activity
especially
: a business organization
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