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small business

American

[smawl biz-nis] / ˈsmɔl ˈbɪz nɪs /

noun

a profit-seeking enterprise or concern that is independently owned and operated, has a limited number of employees, and is not nationally dominant in its field.

Etymology

Origin of small business

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

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:

small business

For instance, co-ops can reduce the risks of trying to go it alone to launch a small business.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

FSB policy chief Tina McKenzie, said the plans were encouraging and fix the damage caused by past business rates decisions which are "holding back small business growth and jobs in every postcode".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Moonprint Solutions, a small business, is developing flexible protective covers that shield equipment from the Moon's highly abrasive dust.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

The date is fitting: Few institutions hold as cherished a place in American life as the small business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

Running a small business was a heavy load to take on, but I loved working on Louellashop.com so much, it didn’t feel like work.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023