verb

bootstrap

BOOT-strap

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Bootstrap (verb) means to start and grow a business or project using only your own money and revenue, without outside investment. Example: “They bootstrapped the company for four years before taking any funding.”

verb

To start and grow a business or project using only your own money and revenue, without outside investment.

"They bootstrapped the company for four years before taking any funding."

"She bootstrapped the whole studio on savings and freelance work."

technical In computing, to start up a computer or system by loading a small initial program that then loads the rest.

"The chip bootstraps from flash memory on power-up."

noun

A loop of leather or fabric at the back of a boot, used to pull it on.

"He hooked a finger through the bootstrap and tugged."

How to use bootstrap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get something going using only what you already have.

When to use it

Neutral in business and technology writing; the underlying idiom is often used politically and can be contentious.

Memory tip

As an adjective it is usually bootstrapped: a bootstrapped business.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

boostrap Bootstrap the CSS framework bootstrapping in statistics

Common pairings

bootstrap a startup bootstrapped company bootstrap process pull yourself up by your bootstraps

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The chip _____ from flash memory on power-up.

Etymology

From boot and strap, the small loop used to pull a boot on, via the ironic image of pulling oneself up by one's own bootstraps, which was originally a description of something impossible.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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self-fund self-finance

Antonyms

fundraise

Related words

fundraise

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean when a company is bootstrapped?

It means the founders built it with their own savings and the cash the business generated, rather than raising money from investors. Bootstrapped companies grow more slowly but keep full ownership and control.

What does bootstrap mean in statistics?

Bootstrapping is a resampling method in which many samples are drawn with replacement from the data you already have, in order to estimate the uncertainty of a statistic. The name reflects the same idea as the business sense: generating what you need from your own resources.

Is Bootstrap the same as bootstrapping?

No. Bootstrap with a capital B is the name of a widely used front-end web framework of prewritten CSS and JavaScript components. Bootstrapping is the general process of starting something from minimal resources.

What is the meaning of bootstrap?

"bootstrap" (verb) means to start and grow a business or project using only your own money and revenue, without outside investment.

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