startup

American  

[stahrt-uhp] / ˈstɑrtˌʌp /

Or start-up

noun

1. the act or fact of starting something; a setting in motion.

2. a new business venture, or a new commercial or industrial project.

   a small, 5-month-old internet startup.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the beginning of such a venture or project, especially to an investment made to initiate it.

   high start-up costs for construction of a new facility.

Etymology

Origin of startup

First recorded in 1550–60; noun use of verb phrase start up

Explanation

The word startup refers to either the process of beginning something or a new entrepreneurial business. The startup costs for your sister's startup might be higher than she thinks. Most startups offer their customers something innovative — a new product, like a dog toy that's truly indestructible, or an ingenious service, like a smartphone app that tells you where the closest public restrooms are. A startup begins with a great idea, is backed by investments of money, and is intended to grow very quickly — assuming it's successful.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

startup

Wonderful, a startup that helps large enterprises deploy artificial intelligence, has raised $550 million at a $5 billion valuation to fund a worldwide hiring spree.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

"Brands that do make money follow the lean startup method and keep their collections minimal. You need a lot of traction to get the attention of an investor."

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

It also recently completed its acquisition of the AI startup Cursor, which Horan called “transformative,” helping SpaceX develop its models and generate additional revenue.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

AI startup Manus said Tuesday it had resumed independent operations, months after China blocked Facebook-owner Meta from buying the Chinese-developed, Singapore-based firm.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

“It was a pharmaceutical startup in Toa Baja.”

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya