Synonyms of business

business

noun

ˈbiz-nəs 

1

as in patronage

transactions or economic support provided by customers

only places that are equal opportunity employers will get my business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• patronage
• custom
• traffic
• merchandising
• marketplace
• affairs
• dealings
• trade
• retailing
• free trade
• wholesaling
• horse-trading

2

as in firm

a commercial or industrial activity or organization

most of the local businesses belong to the association

Synonyms & Similar Words

• firm
• company
• house
• enterprise
• interest
• corporation
• concern
• establishment
• agency
• association
• multinational
• outfit
• conglomerate
• dealer
• outlet
• chain
• cartel
• trust
• syndicate
• microenterprise
• combine

3

as in matter

something to be dealt with

we have one piece of business remaining for today's meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• matter
• thing
• problem
• affair
• issue
• crisis
• concern
• consideration
• emergency
• worry
• ball of wax
• trouble
• responsibility
• predicament
• care
• flash point
• exigency
• juncture
• crunch
• hot water
• strait
• zero hour
• standstill
• corner
• head
• pickle
• impasse
• halt
• spot
• jam
• deadlock
• fix
• hole
• stalemate
• crossroad(s)
• pinch
• lookout
• scrape

4

as in commerce

the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places

this bookstore is a place of business, not a free library, so please do your reading elsewhere

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commerce
• marketplace
• traffic
• trade
• dealings
• free trade
• retailing
• black market
• merchandising
• gray market
• wholesaling
• bartering
• horse-trading
• e-tail

5

as in purpose

the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

plants going about the business of photosynthesis provide the Earth with a renewable source of oxygen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• purpose
• job
• task
• role
• function
• work
• part
• place
• capacity
• position
• mission
• office
• participation
• situation
• rôle
• involvement
• concern
• vocation
• activity
• service
• occupation
• duty
• use
• responsibility
• affair
• post
• niche
• hand
• pursuit
• assignment
• commission
• calling
• employ
• charge

6

as in area

a region of activity, knowledge, or influence

if you want a medical malpractice lawyer, he's the best in the business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• area
• department
• domain
• realm
• element
• field
• walk
• sphere
• kingdom
• specialty
• province
• territory
• arena
• terrain
• discipline
• game
• circle
• front
• precinct
• bailiwick
• study
• firmament
• fiefdom
• fief
• subject
• profession
• line
• barony
• demesne
• pursuit
• frontier
• confine
• scope
• occupation
• vocation
• turf
• racket
• reach
• extent
• breadth
• width
• compass
• ambit
• sweep
• subspecialty
• amplitude
• subfield
• ken
• dimension(s)

7

as in job

a specific task with which a person or group is charged

the interrogators demanded to know what business the suspect had in the restricted area at that time of night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• job
• mission
• assignment
• operation
• duty
• responsibility
• post
• requirement
• office
• brief
• detail
• obligation
• charge
• work
• need
• labor
• burden
• errand
• commitment
• promise
• commission
• chore
• designation
• appointment
• nomination
• pledge
• restraint
• compulsion
• constraint

8

as in treachery

the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another

the price for giving the drug lord the business was certain death

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treachery
• betrayal
• treason
• deception
• double cross
• sellout
• backstabbing
• infidelity
• lying
• disloyalty
• abandonment
• perfidy
• deceit
• falseness
• faithlessness
• unfaithfulness
• falsity
• two-timing
• duplicity
• fraud
• informing
• desertion
• trickery
• double-dealing
• guile
• two-facedness
• talebearing
• snitching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loyalty
• allegiance
• devotion
• fidelity
• faithfulness
• reliability
• steadfastness
• fealty
• defense
• dependability
• protection
• trustworthiness
• shield
• safeguard
• staunchness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun business differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of business are calling, employment, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

When is it sensible to use calling instead of business?

In some situations, the words calling and business are roughly equivalent. However, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When would employment be a good substitute for business?

The words employment and business can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

In what contexts can métier take the place of business?

Although the words métier and business have much in common, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

When might occupation be a better fit than business?

The words occupation and business are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When can pursuit be used instead of business?

While the synonyms pursuit and business are close in meaning, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

Where would work be a reasonable alternative to business?

The meanings of work and business largely overlap; however, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of business

In line with last year, online is the most popular shopping destination at 41%, followed by department stores, discount stores, specialty stores and local/small businesses. —Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 13 June 2025

But in its complaint, Honeywell claimed that Patent Armory has a history of suing large companies for patent infringement in hopes to secure a settlement, noting that Patent Armory has pursued 189 infringement lawsuits against various businesses based on the same patents. —Sydney Sasser, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2025

For now, Deloitte’s initial consulting work with athletic departments doesn’t appear to be aimed at securing immediate repeat business. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 1 June 2025

Siri and dictation data also represent additional ways a person's Apple TV usage might be unexpectedly analyzed to fuel Apple's business. —ArsTechnica, 1 June 2025

Phrases Containing business

• monkey business