enterprise

noun en·ter·prise \ ˈen-tər-ˌprīz , ˈen-tə-ˌprīz \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

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

See enterprise defined for English-language learners

See enterprise defined for kids

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 of enterprise from the Web

The company's profits rose 28.1 percent in 2017, boosted by strong enterprise and consumer sales and booming business overseas.

— dake kang, The Christian Science Monitor, "Amid US woes, Chinese telecom giant turns to Europe, Asia," 20 Apr. 2018
President Trump also has adopted a policy designed to keep U.S. revenue out of the hands of the Cuban military by putting 180 hotels and other businesses controlled by military enterprises on a blacklist.

— mimi whitefield and nora gÁmez torres, miamiherald, "Cuba's new president is the first non-Castro in 42 years. How much power will he have? | Miami Herald," 19 Apr. 2018
The reset with the U.S. boosted a buoyant private sector of small businesses—centered on guesthouses, restaurants, taxi companies, hairdressing salons, barber shops, and other enterprises—that now employ more than half-a-million workers.

— josé de córdoba, WSJ, "Cuba Leaves Castro Era With Slim Prospects for Change," 17 Apr. 2018
What this means to you: Right now, the only security vendor who has signed on to use this capability is Microsoft, which has integrated it within its Windows Defender ATP service for enterprises.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Intel offloads virus scanning to the GPU for better battery life and performance," 17 Apr. 2018
The decline in job creation by new enterprises could be a worrisome harbinger for the economy.

— paul davidson, USA TODAY, "Start-ups are growing again, but with fewer jobs than before recession," 16 Apr. 2018
Writers and editors also were expected to be well-disposed toward Spreckels’ numerous enterprises.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, ""A Faithful Mirror": The San Diego Union-Tribune's first 150 years," 15 Apr. 2018
Most skimming scams are part of an organized criminal enterprise, Keller said.

— wayne k. roustan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Soaring number of sophisticated credit card skimmers found on gas pumps," 13 Apr. 2018
On the skills journalists need: Intense curiosity, and an intense willingness to pursue leads with enterprise.

— kate dwyer, The Cut, "Tina Brown on Networking, ‘Sleep Orgies,’ and Why She Loves Ziplock Bags," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enterprise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of enterprise

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

enterprise Synonyms

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

ENTERPRISE Defined for English Language Learners

enterprise

noun

: a project or activity that involves many people and that is often difficult
: a business organization
: the ability or desire to do dangerous or difficult things or to solve problems in new ways