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

Synonyms of enterprise

• company
• firm
• house
• business
• interest

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

Rogers, now a partner in the technology giant’s enterprise cloud division, and Monaco, who was tapped to be the firm’s global affairs president, took actions that helped GCC obtain and maintain a lucrative foothold within the federal government. —Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026

Sinjuan Song, 31, of Alhambra, California, was arraigned Friday in the 51st District Court in Waterford on one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and two counts of possession of a fraudulent financial transaction device. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026

The enterprise continued to expand, acquiring sports apparel company BSN Sports in 2013. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026

Bulls that aren’t saleable become steer for the ranch’s beef market, a direct-to-consumer enterprise through which local families can purchase beef by the pound or buy beef shares — freezer beef sold in quarters, halves or wholes. —Matt Alderton, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing enterprise

• enterprise zone
• free enterprise
• private enterprise

Rhymes for enterprise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids 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

-ˌprī-zər

noun

Legal Definition

enterprise

noun

en·​ter·​prise ˈen-tər-ˌprīz 

: an economic organization or activity

especially : a business organization