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 role

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

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

Then, the news started focusing on his charitable contributions in comparison to ex-wife Mackenzie Scott, and his new business endeavors as well as his remaining Amazon ties. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2026

Scout told local news outlet PhillyVoice that BlackStar Projects, Monument Lab, DesignPhiladelphia, the Stained Glass Project, and 45 other artists, makers, and small retail businesses have currently signed on as tenants within the development. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Aug. 2026

The two companies have a number of complementary businesses — including substantial pipeline and storage networks — but combining the operations would have been thorny. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Analysts say a broad shift is underway, with Chinese companies becoming sources of technology and innovation that global businesses cannot easily sidestep. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing business

• monkey business