Definition of enterprise in English:

noun

• 1A project or undertaking, especially a bold or complex one.

  ‘a joint enterprise between French and Japanese companies’

  More example sentences

  • ‘So bold an enterprise, so boldly undertaken, is bound to provoke not merely thought but dissent.’
  • ‘The cases tend to talk in terms of there being a joint enterprise, or pre-arranged plan or talk of the accused acting in concert.’
  • ‘It is at this point that the idea of a joint enterprise, be it marital or based on cohabitation, becomes crucial.’
  • ‘Many view the European project as an enterprise of long conversations with little change.’
  • ‘We want added-value projects, enterprises that involve design and development, for instance.’
  • ‘Thus, given the scope of the enterprise, the project would inevitably enhance teaching and stimulate research.’
  • ‘The Universe was believed to be far too complex for such an enterprise to be even considered.’
  • ‘This used to be a joint enterprise with her husband.’
  • ‘The contributions of big game hunting to the imperial enterprise were multiple and complex.’
  • ‘Indeed most of the things I had done were really joint enterprises.’
  • ‘China and Russia will support a joint enterprise and have voted for the UN Security Council resolution of condemnation.’
  • ‘Neither of them are alleged to have actually wielded the knife, but were part of a joint enterprise, he said.’
  • ‘This made farming a joint enterprise with each benefiting from the other.’
  • ‘The emperor undertook great enterprises with enthusiasm; his son avoids them.’
  • ‘You are advised to take the lead with regard to joint enterprises and commitments.’
  • ‘In my submission, that evidence clearly laid the basis for the joint enterprise, at least as far as the attempted armed robbery went.’
  • ‘But you have a common commodity and a common end and you have a joint enterprise, have you not?’
  • ‘It is also an enterprise that complements other positive environmental, farming and rural development schemes.’
  • ‘Along the way, there are some moments that threaten to take the entire enterprise completely off the rails.’
  • ‘Next, you'll list the tasks that will bring about the successful completion of your new enterprise.’

  Synonyms

  undertaking, endeavour, venture, pursuit, exercise, activity, operation, exploit, mission, deed, act, action, move, measure, task, business, affair, proceeding

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1mass noun Initiative and resourcefulness.
     ‘success came quickly, thanks to a mixture of talent, enterprise, and luck’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Sometimes, however, it can take a little initiative and enterprise to secure municipal services for the village.’
     • ‘I knew from an early age what that comfort depended on: diligence, enterprise and initiative.’
     • ‘As a result, initiative, enterprise, and valor are once again at a premium.’
     • ‘He has the drive, ability, enterprise and youth to make a further substantial contribution to the Irish media.’
     • ‘Scotland needs many more people like them with ambition, courage and a strong spirit of enterprise.’
     • ‘It took a number of coincidences and lots of good luck to release this strong spirit of enterprise hidden in them.’
     • ‘Only then will Scotland match its historic commitment to tackling poverty with the new spirit of enterprise on which our shared future depends.’
     • ‘A happy combination of luck and enterprise has put a South Lakeland village on the brink of prosperity for the foreseeable future.’
     • ‘For the sake of Britain's future I want every child enthused with the spirit of enterprise.’
     • ‘I want to pay tribute to that effort and spirit of enterprise.’
     • ‘The spirit of enterprise depends on this will to win.’
     • ‘Or is it only the last chapter of the long story of our ability to absorb foreigners, and draw new strength from their energy and enterprise?’
     • ‘A baya of enterprise, energy and skill may be the proud builder of four nests in a colony, each happily occupied with a female on eggs.’
     • ‘Remember, inventive enterprise built America, not the Federal Government.’
     • ‘The spirit of enterprise is alive and kicking in Scotland.’
     • ‘It shows enterprise and the ability to get on with other people, and these are often better guides to character than academic achievement.’
     • ‘Big cities are both cradles and magnets for enterprise and creativity.’
     • ‘These grown-up children were usually those who had no spirit of enterprise.’
     • ‘The inequality in the world just now is reprehensible, but human ingenuity and enterprise can triumph against the odds.’
     • ‘But, I am bound to add, in the context of the spirit of Western enterprise, it should not surprise us.’
     Synonyms

     initiative, resourcefulness, resource, imagination, imaginativeness, ingenuity, inventiveness, originality, creativity

     View synonyms

• 2A business or company.

  ‘a state-owned enterprise’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Few local State-owned and private enterprises call the headhunting companies for help.’
  • ‘It is a commercial enterprise which invites business from the public in terms of sales, parts, servicing and works.’
  • ‘Tucked away behind this traditional front is a different enterprise producing an impressive business performance.’
  • ‘In many countries there is no power to seek divestiture to split up established business enterprises.’
  • ‘State-owned enterprises have a commercial focus; that is what they were set up to have.’
  • ‘But these oligopolistic industries also included other types of business enterprises.’
  • ‘The established socialized enterprises were allowed to contract work in the developing private sphere.’
  • ‘You are a business-an enterprise with a quality based product line, and skilled knowledge base.’
  • ‘Anyone caught using the service as part of a commercial enterprise will have their contract terminated.’
  • ‘In contrast, a creditor is a commercial enterprise or a person to whom money is owed.’
  • ‘In the past, mostly big enterprises opened up their businesses in Shanghai.’
  • ‘The entry of private enterprises made those markets more lively and dynamic.’
  • ‘Reports in the Hong Kong business press say many enterprises are being pushed to the wall.’
  • ‘As a business enterprise this has not been as successful as we would like, and we're up front about that.’
  • ‘After it moved to its Curtis Street premises 13 years ago, the enterprise started stocking organic produce.’
  • ‘Integration between business processes within the enterprise is the first step.’
  • ‘As well as growing more common, the enterprise has become more organised.’
  • ‘The rents generated by the sites depend on the prosperity of the enterprises on the sites.’
  • ‘It was established in 1993 to promote small enterprise and job creation throughout the county.’
  • ‘The company took over the festival 15 months ago from a small non-profit making enterprise after both competed for the contract.’

  Synonyms

  business, company, firm, undertaking, commercial undertaking, venture, organization, operation, concern, industry, corporation, establishment, house, shop, office, bureau, agency, franchise, practice, partnership, consortium, cooperative, conglomerate, group, combine, syndicate

  View synonyms

  1. 2.1mass noun Entrepreneurial economic activity.
     ‘an economic environment which encourages enterprise’
     as modifier ‘local enterprise agencies’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Equally clear is the need to support and develop local enterprise and entrepreneurship.’
     • ‘Here is an agency set up to encourage local enterprise, which is using public funds to further a policy of land distribution.’
     • ‘The funding will benefit local groups and encourage enterprise.’
     • ‘This will mean a drop in money for big farmers and greater emphasis on encouraging local enterprise.’
     • ‘There was also an exhibition in the college atrium to raise awareness of enterprise activities and identify potential entrepreneurs.’
     • ‘Occasionally labour contracts encouraged enterprise on the part of the operatives.’
     • ‘That, of course, means more mature politicians and enterprise agencies who are actually enterprising.’
     • ‘Potentially damaging splits have emerged on some local enterprise company boards.’
     • ‘Insufficient domestic demand was the main impediment to enterprise activity.’
     • ‘Over £338 million will be spent on local enterprise through the County Enterprise Boards.’
     • ‘This venture is new, with the view to help those people who love to develop local enterprise by promoting home produce.’
     • ‘The first step was for Susan to undertake a health and safety training course run by her local county enterprise board.’
     • ‘Those responsible for local spending are concerned with education, local enterprise, and housing.’
     • ‘In addition, representatives from local enterprise companies have attempted to dispel Edinburghers' ideas.’
     • ‘His decision to go in June is no surprise, but is earlier than expected and comes at a time when major upheaval is planned in local enterprise networks.’
     • ‘It is anticipated that up to 80 stands will be on display from large to medium businesses to local craft and enterprise.’
     • ‘It is scientific, economic, friendly to both enterprise and the environment - and it works.’
     • ‘I am glad it does not, but the relationship between Tourism New Zealand and this new enterprise agency is one area we need to look at.’
     • ‘However, smaller firms must deal with local enterprise boards, which are micro-managed.’
     • ‘As he expounded the philosophy of enterprise and free-market wealth creation, there was a stir of interest in the public gallery.’