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
Since 2012, private equity sponsors have financed almost 3,000 energy enterprises across the spectrum, worth $617 billion.
—
Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The city is required to have a separate water and sewer fund, called an enterprise fund, that stipulates expenses are funded through user fees only.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 9 July 2025
This kind of call would never happen to an enterprise software stock that got hot.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 July 2025
The enterprise value of the transaction was $580 million, including $150 million in debt, per the sources.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for enterprise
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The city is required to have a separate water and sewer fund, called an enterprise fund, that stipulates expenses are funded through user fees only.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 9 July 2025
This kind of call would never happen to an enterprise software stock that got hot.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 July 2025
The enterprise value of the transaction was $580 million, including $150 million in debt, per the sources.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 July 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 16 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share