enterprise

¹ American  

[en-ter-prahyz] / ˈɛn tərˌpraɪz /

noun

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

• enterpriseless adjective
• enterpriser noun

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”

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, larger revenue pools for India IT services providers should emerge when enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence occurs, which is likely to gather pace over the next 12-18 months, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

In all, he said, he devotes four to five hours a day to his one-man enterprise.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

FDEs took data from messy spreadsheets, legacy systems and handwritten memos to create a digital replica of an enterprise.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

The company is addressing an age-old problem in enterprise technology: the multitude of siloed systems and data sources that don’t communicate with one another in a fluid way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The dark serpentine of a dead vine running down it like the track of some enterprise upon a graph.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Related Words

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