private enterprise

noun

1. free enterprise ( def 1 ).

private enterprise

noun

1. See public enterprise
   economic activity undertaken by private individuals or organizations under private ownership Compare public enterprise
2. See capitalism
   another name for capitalism

private enterprise

1. Business carried on for profit and not owned by the government; also, the system that discourages public ownership of business; the same as free enterprise . ( See private sector .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of private enterprise¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

There are many private enterprises, including concert venues, gyms, workplaces, universities, that want to create safe environments where people can be unmasked, but that only works if they are vaccinated.

From Washington Post

With her own private enterprise and those connections, she was able to beat Costco or Total Wines or whatever.

From Vox

The private sector is the engine of global change, and action and success will depend on harnessing the power of private enterprise.

From Washington Post

The new administration should embrace this revolution — and bring the power of private enterprise to bear in crossing the next cosmic frontier.

From Washington Post

The organization will create reports, make recommendations and raise the “big questions” about living in and exploring space to governments and private enterprise.

From Ozy

She prized the individual over the collective, and private enterprise over state intervention.

From The Daily Beast

For good reason, almost all government agencies already operate far more openly than the typical private enterprise.

From The Daily Beast

Abramoff describes his lobbying career as an expression of his zeal to keep government “off the back” of private enterprise.

From The Daily Beast

But to conservatives, this meant big government meddling in private enterprise.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, they must accept the fact that only private enterprise can create jobs—more stimulus money is not the answer.

From The Daily Beast

I know of no other private enterprise that so truly represents the skill, aptitude, and energy of American genius.

From Project Gutenberg

And it is no less certain that this growth of resources is due to private enterprise.

From Project Gutenberg

It costs the Government from 50 percent more to twice as much as it would private enterprise to put water on the land (applause).

From Project Gutenberg

For this reason forestry is by nature less suited for private enterprise.

From Project Gutenberg

Private enterprise is dying, being slowly killed by Government competition.

From Project Gutenberg