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
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
When the bubble burst in 2008, touching off the financial crisis, the two enterprises were rushed into government control.
—
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Regulators also set out to limit charters that were only barely technically non-profit but actually operated as profit-making enterprises.
—Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Princess Eugenie is also the founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective, which endeavors to eradicate modern slavery, and helped establish Key to Freedom, a social enterprise initiative facilitating a route to market for products made by survivors of trafficking at Women’s Interlink Foundation.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 22 May 2025
Such enterprises invite non-salaried workers to sell goods and then also earn commissions by recruiting more salespeople; the Federal Trade Commission has over the years outlined subtle legal differences between MLMs and pyramid schemes.
—Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for enterprise
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Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Regulators also set out to limit charters that were only barely technically non-profit but actually operated as profit-making enterprises.
—Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Princess Eugenie is also the founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective, which endeavors to eradicate modern slavery, and helped establish Key to Freedom, a social enterprise initiative facilitating a route to market for products made by survivors of trafficking at Women’s Interlink Foundation.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 22 May 2025
Such enterprises invite non-salaried workers to sell goods and then also earn commissions by recruiting more salespeople; the Federal Trade Commission has over the years outlined subtle legal differences between MLMs and pyramid schemes.
—Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for enterprise
Cite this Entry
“Enterprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enterprise. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˌprī-zər
Legal Definition
enterprise
noun
en·ter·prise
ˈen-tər-ˌprīz
: an economic organization or activity
especially
: a business organization
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