Meaning of “enterprise” in the English Dictionary

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"enterprise" in English

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enterprisenoun

uk /ˈen.tə.praɪz/ us /ˈen.t̬ɚ.praɪz/

enterprise noun (BUSINESS)

C1 [ C or U ] an organization, especially a business, or a difficult and important plan, especially one that will earn money:

Don't forget this is a commercial enterprise - we're here to make money.

Those were the years of private enterprise (= businesses being run privately, rather than by the government), when lots of small businesses were started.

Her latest enterprise (= plan) is to climb Mount Everest.

More examples

a state-owned enterprise
This is an unusual act of collaboration between a museum and a commercial enterprise.
The spirit of competition and free enterprise is alive and well here in Dixie.
It is a government-sponsored enterprise.
Because the organization is a charitable enterprise it is free from tax worldwide.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Enterprises

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enterprise noun (PERSONAL QUALITY)

C1 [ U ] eagerness to do something new and clever, despite any risks:

They've shown a lot of enterprise in setting up this project.

We need someone with enterprise and imagination to design a marketing strategy.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Excitement, interest, energy and enthusiasm

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(Definition of “enterprise” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"enterprise" in American English

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(Definition of “enterprise” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"enterprise" in Business English

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enterprisenoun

uk /ˈentəpraɪz/ us

› [ C ] an organization, a company, or a business:

a manufacturing/catering/farming enterprise

a large/small/medium-sized enterprise

a state/state-owned/multinational enterprise

a domestic/local/foreign enterprise

He was responsible for building the pizza company into a billion-dollar enterprise.

They run a family enterprise in their local town.

enterprise development/management The grants are intended to support local small enterprise development.

› [ C ] a business plan or project, especially one that is difficult or that may fail or lose money:

a business/commercial/economic enterprise What we always look for in a future business partner is a commitment to the business enterprise and its success.

a successful/joint enterprise

› [ U ] business activity in general:

boost/encourage/promote enterprise The government unveiled a wide range of measures to boost business and enterprise yesterday.

The enterprise and development committee supports innovation in business.

› [ U ] the quality or activity of thinking of new ideas and activities in business and making them successful despite the risks involved:

The prime minister applauded the innovation of private entrepreneurs and said he would like to see similar enterprise in the public sector, too.

The scheme rewards young people who show initiative and enterprise.

See also

free enterprise

private enterprise

public enterprise

(Definition of “enterprise” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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enterprise

Many countries are interested in attracting foreign investment to increase the availability of capital, enterprise and technology and thereby boost growth and employment.