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 of enterprise

• company
• firm
• house
• business
• interest

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 scheme allegedly enticed individuals to place bets, and proceeds were used to operate the enterprise and enrich its members. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025

The enterprises that act on this will set the competitive rules in their markets, while those that don’t will keep funding pilots that never escape the lab. —Jg Chirapurath, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

For her part, Udemy’s Weingarten says the dueling narratives of persistent worker hesitancy about AI and AI skills despite increasing enterprise AI adoption fit into Thursday’s findings. —Jared Perlo, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2025

In an interview on the network just after Disney reported mixed quarterly earnings, Johnston pushed back on comments that YouTube’s parent (Google and Alphabet) may have more leverage in negotiations given the relative size YouTube TV is to the overall enterprise. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Nov. 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

Rhymes for enterprise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

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