enterprise

The word “enterprise” means a business or organization, especially one involved in a significant undertaking. In plain terms, a business, or more broadly, any bold and often risky project — and the drive needed to pursue one.

“Enterprise” is pronounced EHN-tuh-pryz (/ˈɛntɚˌpɹaɪz/ in IPA).

Here is “enterprise” used in a sentence: “The family runs a small but thriving enterprise selling handmade furniture.”

Words with a similar meaning to “enterprise” include business, company and firm.

“Enterprise” is a noun.

The word “enterprise” comes from Old French. From Old French entreprise, "something undertaken," from entreprendre, "to undertake.".

“Enterprise” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Enterprise” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a business or organization, especially one involved in a significant undertaking.

A company is a legally organized business, while enterprise is a broader word covering any business or organization, especially one engaged in a significant undertaking. Enterprise can also name a bold or ambitious project itself, so a company can launch an enterprise. In business software and government writing, "enterprise" often implies a large organization.

Both words can describe a bold project involving risk, but venture puts more weight on the risk and uncertainty, as in "business venture" or "venture capital." Enterprise can also refer to the organization carrying out the project, a sense venture does not usually have.

Business is the everyday word; enterprise is more formal and tends to appear in official, economic, or technology contexts, such as "small and medium-sized enterprises" or "enterprise software." Choose enterprise when you want to emphasize scale or ambition, or the undertaking itself rather than day-to-day trade.