# business

Pronunciation: US say "BIZ-nis" /ˈbɪz.nɪs/; UK

## Noun

1. A commercial enterprise or establishment, such as a company or shop.
   - Simple: A company or shop that sells goods or services to make money.
   - _The family ran a successful business for three generations._
   - _Several local businesses closed during the recession._
3. Commercial, industrial, or professional work done to earn a living; also, a person's own occupation or trade.
   - Simple: Work done to earn money, or the kind of work a person does.
   - _He has spent his entire life in business, from his first shop to his last factory._
   - _The two countries do a great deal of business with each other._
4. The running of commercial companies, or the academic field that studies how they are run.
   - Simple: The work of running companies, or learning how to do it.
   - _She earned a master's degree in business before joining the firm._
   - _Good business requires both careful strategy and strong people skills._
5. Private commercial interests considered collectively.
   - Simple: Companies as a group, thought of all together.
   - _Government and business often disagree over how much regulation is needed._
   - _The reforms were welcomed by business across the country._
10. A matter or concern that involves one personally.
   - Simple: A matter that has to do with you personally.
   - _Who she chooses to marry is her business alone._
   - _He resented anyone prying into his private business._
6. One's dealings with a company, especially as a paying customer; patronage.
   - Simple: The trade or money that a customer gives to a company.
   - _We value your business and hope you will visit us again._
   - _The airline won back his business with a better loyalty program._
7. The volume or amount of commercial trade that is carried out.
   - Simple: The amount of buying and selling that a company does.
   - _Online sales now account for half the company's business._
   - _The new highway brought more business to the small town._
8. A particular situation, affair, or activity.
   - Simple: A situation or activity that is happening, often a confusing or annoying one.
   - _The entire business of moving house left them completely exhausted._
   - _Nobody understood what the strange business at the docks was about._
9. Matters or tasks that need to be dealt with, such as items brought before a meeting or the affairs of an estate.
   - Simple: Things that need to be dealt with, such as the topics a meeting must discuss.
   - _The lawyer handled the business of the estate quickly and carefully._
   - _They met to finish the business of dividing the property._
11. The class of airline seating above economy, offering more comfort and service, and below first class where an airline has one.
   - Simple: Better plane seats and service than economy, below first class if the airline has it.
   - _He paid extra to sit in business for the long transatlantic leg._
   - _The company lets senior staff book business on flights over six hours._
12. The entertainment industry, especially film and television production. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: The world of movies and television, seen as a place to work.
   - _Decades in the business taught her which studios honored their contracts._
   - _He left the business after one bruising studio negotiation._
13. A polite term for excrement, or the act of producing it, especially that of an animal. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A polite word for an animal's poop, or for the act of doing it.
   - _The cat does its business in a tray of litter by the door._
   - _We waited while the horse did its business before the parade set off._
14. Mischievous or disruptive behavior; troublesome goings-on. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Troublesome or naughty behavior that causes problems for others.
   - _The substitute teacher had barely turned to the board before the monkey business started in the back row._
   - _After last year's pranks, the principal warned the seniors that any funny business at graduation would cost them their diplomas._
17. Short for stage business. Small actions or gestures an actor makes on stage for effect, often with a prop or piece of clothing. — Ellipsis of stage business (“aspect of acting”).
   - Simple: Short for stage business. It means small actions an actor does on stage, often with an object.
   - _She invented a bit of business with an umbrella to open the scene._
   - _The comedy relied on clever business between the two leads._
18. An indirect term for prostitution; sex work engaged in for money. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A gentle word for the work of selling sex for money.
   - _Every night a few women waited near the docks for passing cars, and everyone in the neighborhood knew they were in the business._
   - _Her memoir describes how a pimp lured her into the business at sixteen and how she finally escaped._
19. Something excellent; the very best of its kind. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: Something that is really good or the best of its kind.
   - _Critics agreed the band's latest album was the business._
   - _For a cheap pair of boots, these are really the business._
20. Matters or affairs, especially significant cultural or ceremonial ones in Australian Aboriginal contexts. *(Australia)*
   - Simple: Important matters or affairs, especially cultural ones in Aboriginal Australian life.
   - _Sorry business kept the community together throughout the mourning period._
   - _Certain ceremonies are women's business and remain closed to men._

## Adjective

2. Relating to or used for trade, commerce, governance, advocacy, or other professional purposes.
   - Simple: Used for work, trade, or other professional activities.
   - _He travels abroad often for business reasons._
   - _The company adopted a more aggressive business strategy this year._
15. Professional and businesslike in manner, showing concern for sound and proper business practice.
   - Simple: Acting in a serious, professional way that shows care for doing good work.
   - _The new treasurer was all business, cutting the small talk short and walking the committee through every receipt._
   - _His business demeanor reassured the investors that the firm was in steady hands._
16. Supportive of commercial activity and conducive to carrying on a trade.
   - Simple: Helping companies do their work or grow more easily.

## Noun

21. A group of ferrets, used as the collective noun for the animal. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A group of ferrets gathered together.

## Origin

From Middle English "busines," from Old English "bisiġnes" meaning business or busyness, formed from "busy" plus the suffix "-ness." It is a doublet of "busyness."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/business (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).