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enterprise

noun
en·​ter·​prise | \ ˈen-tər-ˌprÄ«z How to pronounce enterprise (audio) , ˈen-tə-ˌprÄ«z\

Definition of enterprise

1 : a project or undertaking that is especially difficult, complicated, or risky
2a : 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
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 It was founded in 1888 from an earlier enterprise called the American Graphophone Co. — Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, "Trade hope emerges and the bond rate inversion ends," 8 Sep. 2019 On Wall Street, Dell Technologies beat the doom and gloom atmosphere pervading enterprise tech companies with solid-ish results. — Adam Lashinsky, Fortune, "The Best Way to Thwart Hackers and Cyber Crooks—Data Sheet," 30 Aug. 2019 TECHNOLOGY Cybersecurity firm bought by EMC-Dell affiliate Carbon Black, one of Greater Boston’s newest public tech companies, has reached a deal to be sold to VMware, the Silicon Valley enterprise software company. — BostonGlobe.com, "Cybersecurity firm bought by EMC-Dell affiliate," 23 Aug. 2019 Many local Colombian tour agencies made money by charging tourists to bring them to Puerto Alegria’s animal enterprise, Maldonado says. — Kirsten Luce, National Geographic, "How one Amazon community is trying to move on from illegal wildlife tourism," 15 Aug. 2019 Previously, Broadcom acquired network equipment maker Brocade in 2017 and enterprise security company CA Technologies in 2018. — Rishi Iyengar, CNN, "Broadcom to acquire Symantec's enterprise security software business," 8 Aug. 2019 Such an enterprise in part demands policy actions, but part of it is rhetorical, too. — Fred Bauer, National Review, "The Fundamental Tension of the Trump Presidency," 19 July 2019 In Einstein’s day many scientists similarly saw themselves as engaged in an international, humanist enterprise that transcended borders and rose above the ugly banalities of politics. — The Economist, "How Einstein and Eddington stood against jingoism," 7 June 2019 The leader of the crew, the leader of an organized criminal enterprise doesn’t come out and tell someone what to do. — Andrea Bernstein, ProPublica, "“Trump, Inc.” and Former FBI Deputy Chief Andrew McCabe Compare Notes," 29 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enterprise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of enterprise

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for enterprise

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from entreprendre to undertake, from entre- inter- + prendre to take — more at prize

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More Definitions for enterprise

enterprise

noun
How to pronounce enterprise (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of enterprise

: a project or activity that involves many people and that is often difficult
: a business organization
: the ability or desire to do dangerous or difficult things or to solve problems in new ways

See the full definition for enterprise in the English Language Learners Dictionary

enterprise

noun
en·​ter·​prise | \ ˈen-tər-ˌprÄ«z How to pronounce enterprise (audio) \

Kids Definition of enterprise

1 : a project or undertaking that is difficult, complicated, or risky
2 : willingness to engage in daring or difficult action Look at the opportunities here for a man of knowledge, brains, pluck, and enterprise 
— Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee
3 : a business organization or activity

enterprise

noun
en·​ter·​prise | \ ˈen-tər-ˌprÄ«z How to pronounce enterprise (audio) \

Legal Definition of enterprise

: an economic organization or activity especially : a business organization

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More from Merriam-Webster on enterprise

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with enterprise

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for enterprise

Spanish Central: Translation of enterprise

Nglish: Translation of enterprise for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of enterprise for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about enterprise

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