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small business

American

[smawl biz-nis] / ˈsmɔl ˈbɪz nɪs /

noun

a profit-seeking enterprise or concern that is independently owned and operated, has a limited number of employees, and is not nationally dominant in its field.

Etymology

Origin of small business

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kristine Ruff, a small business owner who lives in the area, was getting her hair done at a local salon.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

That it’s easy for people to start a small business and grow their families right here in the communities that they love.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

These days, he’s running a small business he bought several years ago with his family’s help and is focused on scaling it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

It can refuse to solve a geopolitical bottleneck by breaking housing, small business, traditional manufacturing and capital spending.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

A friend suggested that she use the money to start a small business, which would help the family and also keep her busy, so she could try to get past her grief.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023