free enterprise

noun

: freedom of private business to organize and operate for profit in a competitive system without interference by government beyond regulation necessary to protect public interest and keep the national economy in balance

Examples of free enterprise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite professing fidelity to free enterprise, conservatives have repeatedly backed government interventions that advantage corporations. —Allan J. Lichtman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Views of free enterprise remain largely positive, according to the new Gallup poll, but perceptions of big business have soured since 2010. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025

At the end of the day, that is what a single company or all of free enterprise is about – human productivity and contribution. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025

But neither has spoken out about the president’s more direct assault on free enterprise. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for free enterprise

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

free enterprise

noun

: freedom of private business to operate with little regulation by the government