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

Investors who spent decades funding consumer- and enterprise-tech companies have now made an obsessive turn toward weapons firms that operate like start-ups, founded by the type of entrepreneur who used to make Web browsers, social network platforms, or VR headsets. —Simon Denny, Artforum, 20 Apr. 2026

Media companies a decade ago raced to engage young, bilingual Latinos by launching start-ups, including a joint venture between ABC News and Univision called Fusion that flopped. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026

For example, when a talented hi-tech engineer becomes manager of a start-up company, the company creates jobs and thus will be of benefit to society. —George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026

Bobby Fijan, co-founder of the American Housing Corporation, a start-up developing family-friendly urban real estate, tells me this was his concern. —Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 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