enterprise

UK: /ˈɛntə^rpraɪz/ US: /ˈɛntɚˌpraɪz/ ,(en′tər prīz′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

en•ter•prise /ˈɛntɚˌpraɪz/   n. 

1. an important, complicated, or difficult undertaking:
   [countable] Attempts to reach the South Pole were daring enterprises.
2. adventurous spirit or ingenuity:
   [uncountable] showing enterprise in solving the puzzle.
3. Business [countable] a business firm;
   company.
4. a system of doing or organizing business:
   [uncountable] private enterprise.

See -pris-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

en•ter•prise  (en′tər prīz′), n. 

1. a project undertaken or to be undertaken, esp. one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy:
   To keep the peace is a difficult enterprise.
2. a plan for such a project.
3. participation or engagement in such projects:
   Our country was formed by the enterprise of resolute men and women.
4. boldness or readiness in undertaking;
   adventurous spirit;
   ingenuity.
5. Business a company organized for commercial purposes;
   business firm.
6. Military (cap.) the first nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1961, with a displacement of 89,000 tons (80,723 m ton) and eight reactors.
7. Aerospace (cap., italics) [U.S. Aerospace.] the first space shuttle, used for atmospheric flight and landing tests.

• Latin inter- inter- + prēnsus grasped, seized, contraction of prehēnsus, equivalent. to pre- pre- + hend- take hold of + -tus past participle suffix
• Middle French, noun, nominal use of feminine of entrepris (past participle of entreprendre to undertake)
• late Middle English 1400–50

en′ter•prise′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. plan, undertaking, venture.
• 4. drive, aggressiveness, push, ambition.

En•ter•prise  (en′tər prīz′), n. 

1. Place Names a city in S Alabama. 18,033.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

enterprise / ˈɛntəˌpraɪz/ noun

1. a project or undertaking, esp one that requires boldness or effort
2. participation in such projects
3. readiness to embark on new ventures; boldness and energy
4. initiative in business
5. (as modifier): the enterprise culture
6. a business unit; a company or firm

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French entreprise (n), from entreprendre from entre- between (from Latin: inter-) + prendre to take, from Latin prehendere to grasp

ˈenterˌpriser noun