entrepreneurial

adjective

en·​tre·​pre·​neur·​ial ˌän-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər-ē-əl 

-ˈn(y)u̇r-, 

ˌäⁿn-

: having to do with the creation and development of economic ventures : of, relating to, characteristic of, or suited to an entrepreneur

entrepreneurial skills/ambitions/projects

entrepreneurial zeal

With your colleagues and the kids out of the way, what do you buy for that spouse or friend who's gone the entrepreneurial route and is working at home?

—Don Crabb

Harvard Business School, long known as a gateway to corporate America, last October established a beachhead in the nation's entrepreneurial epicenter, California's Silicon Valley.

—Marc Ballon

… economic development is more likely to occur (if at all) in the more entrepreneurial southern region.

—Sarah Searight

also : engaged or interested in the development of economic ventures

an ambitious and entrepreneurial young woman

a company founded by a group of entrepreneurial scientists

entrepreneurialism

ˌäⁿn-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər-ē-ə-li-zəm 

-ˈn(y)u̇r-, 

ˌäⁿn-

noun

The map shows the distribution of high-tech manufacturing firms in the southeastern United States …, helping to identify towns and cities that are lodestones of high-tech entrepreneurialism.

—John Tierney

entrepreneurially

ˌäⁿn-trə-p(r)ə-ˈnər-ē-ə-lē 

-ˈn(y)u̇r-, 

ˌäⁿn-

adverb

… some 25 teams, drawn mostly from the ranks of universities and entrepreneurially minded engineers …

—Joseph Hooper

Examples of entrepreneurial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Vincent brought an entrepreneurial and technology-oriented mindset into what is traditionally a hands-on trade environment. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

Of the Queen’s four children, Andrew was considered the direct and entrepreneurial one. —Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026

With the high vacancy rates in most school districts, introducing an entrepreneurial approach for those able, suitable and seeking to educate should be explored, via national study in conjunction with our universities. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

Top Picks Best Smith Helmets Smith Optics was founded by an entrepreneurial optometrist who spent most of his free time skiing. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for entrepreneurial

• seigneurial