start-up

noun

ˈstärt-ˌəp 

variants or startup

often attributive

1

: the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion

2

: a fledgling business enterprise

Examples of start-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Michael and Olivia’s firm is, of course, a start-up in its own right. — Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Both lawyers were recently fired from S-Talk, an on-the-rise Silicon Valley start-up, for reasons that don’t add up. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026

For China’s latest generation of AI entrepreneurs, venture capital and bank loans—the two main sources of start-up funding – may not be enough in the coming years. — Alvin Yap, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Evil star Mike Colter returns to the fold as Michael Price, an attorney fired from his Silicon Valley start-up for shady reasons. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for start-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup