private enterprise

American  

noun

1. free enterprise.

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private enterprise British  

noun

1. economic activity undertaken by private individuals or organizations under private ownership Compare public enterprise

2. another name for capitalism

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private enterprise Cultural  

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.)

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Etymology

Origin of private enterprise

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Across Havana, private enterprise is transforming the landscape, with new businesses offering cold beer, domestic appliances or car parts popping up at a bewildering rate.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

With the results prior to Monsanto, it seemed like the movement that was supposed to free private enterprise from regulatory overreach was also weakening the shield that regulatory power provided.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2026

He argues that this pressure is necessary to force regime change and a flowering of private enterprise.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

If the Pentagon wins at trial, what are the long-term implications for American private enterprise?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The Dutch East India Company, a joint governmental and private enterprise, sent ships to the far corners of the world to acquire rare commodities and resell them at a profit in Europe.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan