agribusiness

noun

ag·​ri·​busi·​ness ˈa-grə-ˌbiz-nəs How to pronounce agribusiness (audio)
-nəz
Synonyms of agribusinessnext
: an industry engaged in the producing operations of a farm, the manufacture and distribution of farm equipment and supplies, and the processing, storage, and distribution of farm commodities

Examples of agribusiness in a Sentence

Several large agribusinesses own most of the farms around here.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Brazil Iran has found a stable Latin American trading partner in Brazil, with trade relations fueled by agribusiness. Chad De Guzman, Time, 13 Jan. 2026 The perception of Castela as someone hardworking and likeable helps give agribusiness — a term that usually brings to mind older male farmers, or male politicians in congress — a friendlier, more contemporary face. Carolina Abbott Galvão, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026 An Oroville native, LaMalfa was a fourth-generation rice farmer and business owner who lived in his northern California district his entire life, earning a college degree in agribusiness from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026 Large agribusinesses can absorb those costs; small family farms often cannot. Kee Hyun Park, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agribusiness

Word History

Etymology

agri- + business

First Known Use

circa 1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agribusiness was circa 1955

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Cite this Entry

“Agribusiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agribusiness. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.

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