enterprise
noun
a project undertaken or to be undertaken, especially one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy.
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enterprise
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Enterprise
Enterprisenouna city in southern Alabama.
enterprise
1 American
[en-ter-prahyz]
/ ˈɛn tərˌpraɪz /
noun
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enterprises
plural
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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
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a plan for such a project.
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participation or engagement in such projects.
Our country was formed by the enterprise of resolute men and women.
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boldness or readiness in undertaking; adventurous spirit; ingenuity.
- Synonyms:
- ambition, push, aggressiveness, drive
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a company organized for commercial purposes; business firm.
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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.
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U.S. Aerospace. none Enterprise the first space shuttle, used for atmospheric flight and landing tests.
adjective
Enterprise
2
American
[en-ter-prahyz]
/ ˈɛn tərˌpraɪz /
noun
enterprise
British
/ ˈɛntəˌpraɪz /
noun
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a project or undertaking, esp one that requires boldness or effort
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participation in such projects
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readiness to embark on new ventures; boldness and energy
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initiative in business
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( as modifier )
the enterprise culture
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a business unit; a company or firm
enterprise
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing enterprise
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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Beam Me Up: Talking About Star Trek
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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.
See Examples For:
Other monetization opportunities that intrigue Wall Street include the company’s newly introduced Meta Model API, which marks the first time Meta has charged developers and enterprise users for access to its underlying models.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
That’s according to Jefferies analyst Brent Thill, who recently wrote of the potential for Microsoft 365 Cloud, the software giant’s classic enterprise software suite that includes things like Word and Excel.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
In his new role, Anand will work across Disney to modernize its development and implementation of tech, as well as overseeing data and AI platforms, enterprise technology and infrastructure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Companies need courage and leadership, she told enterprise tech bureau chief Steve Rosenbush, in a discussion that included Oege de Moor, founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm XBOW.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
It was the kind of foolish, farmerish enterprise that appealed to him.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
While Dans is a minor player in the federal government, “when he speaks, international audiences and officials see him as representing U.S. policy,” said Heather Conley, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
Axon Enterprise stock falls after the Taser maker unveils its plans to raise $1 billion in debt.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
He was his co-defendant in his 2017 conviction and is also now the CEO of Breakthrough Social Enterprise.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Enterprise and government revenue hit $1.8 billion in the June quarter, up 108% compared with a year earlier.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
In Chicago the editors of The Inland Architect tried to be reassuring: “Existing conditions are only an accident. Capital is only hidden. Enterprise is only frightened, not beaten.”
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
The team also sees more spending on AI infrastructure as enterprises consolidate vendors and cut IT budgets.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Of course, most large enterprises have to incrementally revamp their cybersecurity stacks over time to arrive at an end-to-end, AI-powered cybersecurity solution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The Finnish military also runs a series of courses annually for leaders of society - MPs, government ministers, the CEOs of private enterprises and public utilities, the health service, even NGOs and the churches.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Trump, a former real estate magnate who promotes family enterprises at every opportunity, told Martin that Doonbeg was "one of the greatest courses in the world".
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
