enterprise

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛntəprʌɪz/

noun

  • 1a project or undertaking, especially a bold or complex one: a joint enterprise between French and Japanese companies
  • [mass noun] initiative and resourcefulness: success came quickly, thanks to a mixture of talent, enterprise, and luck
  • 2a business or company: a state-owned enterprise
  • [mass noun] entrepreneurial economic activity: an economic environment which encourages enterprise [as modifier]: local enterprise agencies

Derivatives

enterpriser

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, 'something undertaken', feminine past participle (used as a noun) of entreprendre, based on Latin prendere, prehendere 'to take'

Enterprise in modern use is always spelled -ise, not -ize.

Spelling help

Remember that enterprise ends with -ise.