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• enterprise
  enterprise

  noun

  a project undertaken or to be undertaken, especially one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy.
• Enterprise
  Enterprise

  noun

  a city in southern Alabama.

enterprise

¹ American  

[en-ter-prahyz] / ˈɛn tərˌpraɪz /

noun

• enterprises
  plural

1. a project undertaken or to be undertaken, especially one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy.

   To keep the peace is a difficult enterprise.

   Synonyms:

   venture, undertaking, plan

2. a plan for such a project.

3. participation or engagement in such projects.

   Our country was formed by the enterprise of resolute men and women.

4. boldness or readiness in undertaking; adventurous spirit; ingenuity.

   Synonyms:

   ambition, push, aggressiveness, drive

5. a company organized for commercial purposes; business firm.

6. Military. none Enterprise the first nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1961, with a displacement of 89,000 tons (80,723 metric tons) and eight reactors.

7. U.S. Aerospace. none Enterprise the first space shuttle, used for atmospheric flight and landing tests.

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adjective

1. intended for use or consumption by a business firm rather than a consumer.

   enterprise security; enterprise software.

Enterprise ² American  

[en-ter-prahyz] / ˈɛn tərˌpraɪz /

noun

1. a city in southern Alabama.

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enterprise British  

/ ˈɛntəˌpraɪz /

noun

1. a project or undertaking, esp one that requires boldness or effort

2. participation in such projects

3. readiness to embark on new ventures; boldness and energy

4. 1. initiative in business

   2. ( as modifier )

      the enterprise culture

5. a business unit; a company or firm

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enterprise Idioms  

1. see free enterprise.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• enterpriser
  noun
• enterpriseless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• enterprises
  plural

Etymology

Origin of enterprise

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, noun use of feminine of entrepris (past participle of entreprendre “to undertake”), from Latin inter- inter- + prehēnsus, prēnsus, past participle of prehendere, prēndere “to grasp, seize,” equivalent to pre- pre- + -hendere “to grasp”

Explanation

Enterprise describes a readiness to act boldly to get something started, like the enterprise it takes to start a charity with only a dream and a few dollars. Another meaning of enterprise is "a business venture," like a frozen yogurt enterprise. It requires a lot of determination, hard work and the steady belief that people will love your yogurt. People will say you show extraordinary enterprise for your willingness to take on such a challenging project, meaning you have initiative and drive.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

enterprise Enterprise enterprises

In an enterprise telecom landscape that had long been characterized by a ‘playing not to lose’ mindset, she set out to create a culture of innovation, accountability and playing to win.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Boards “don’t act based on behaviors. They act when those behaviors create enterprise risk for the business,” she added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Klein also pointed to a report saying OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told investors that the company’s enterprise business now makes up more of its revenue than its consumer segment.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

Though Anthropic is facing chip constraints and slower enterprise adoption of its technology, Klein said the acceleration in its revenue growth is the key for investors.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

The discovery of America in 1492. created a new enterprise that intellectuals could engage in: the discovery of new knowledge.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

“Sad that a misrepresentation ruined this man’s life,” she told the Press Enterprise, which was first to report the story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

“My guess would be that the rest of the year will, if anything, see slower jobs growth than what we’ve seen so far,” said the American Enterprise Institute’s Stan Veuger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

Then, perhaps the culmination of Infantino's close association with Trump, came Fifa Forward Enterprise.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Business leaders and founders “look at K-12 education and go, ‘Man, how hard can it be to improve this thing?’” said Rick Hess, the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

I felt like I was on a transporter pad, except no one ever had to hold their hands above their head for three seconds on the Enterprise.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Google, OpenAI, and other AI companies are vacuuming up corporate data from both large public companies and small enterprises.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

About 20% of Unitree shares on offer have been allocated to strategic investors including AI lab DeepSeek, and the investment arms of major state-owned enterprises such as China Southern Power Grid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Rajic has experience overseeing global organizations, as well as selling to both large enterprises and technical customers, OpenAI said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Leaders after Zhu, notably President Hu Jintao, reversed some of Zhu’s reforms, especially on state-owned enterprises, and ended the free-market drive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

And to meet the demand, the number of commercial enterprises peddling guided ascents of the Seven Summits, especially Everest, has multiplied correspondingly.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• activity
• business
• company
• firm
• operation
• program
• project
• trade
• venture