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

In an administration staffed by a number of former top business folks, including Commerce and Interior Secretaries Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, and Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler, Bisignano is the figure who’s had by far the biggest jobs in the most prominent enterprises. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026

Elsewhere in the market, there isn't exactly a race to buy the enterprise software-as-a-service stocks after Thursday's carnage, but there are signs of stabilization in Microsoft , CrowdStrike , and Palo Alto Networks . —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026

This is a critical concern for enterprise software. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

The majority of people (66%) reported issues with Microsoft Exchange, the tech giant's enterprise messaging and collaboration platform that provides business-class email, calendars, contacts and tasks. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 23 Jan. 2026

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