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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.

The continued steady private job growth trends in March were largely driven by small business hiring, as well as another month of positive gains in sectors like healthcare and construction.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Amazon’s current cards aimed at small business customers are run through American Express.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

But they were starting to get annoyed and confused about what kind of small business, exactly, Gil seemed to be running here.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

The owner of the small antiques shop will talk to you for hours about every small business that has come and gone on his block.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

She started a small business selling clothes and brought us money when she could.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

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