business
noun
busi·ness ˈbiz-nəs 
-nəz,
Southern also
ˈbid- often attributive
1
a
: a usually commercial or mercantile activity engaged in as a means of livelihood : trade, line
in the restaurant business
b
: a commercial or sometimes an industrial enterprise
also : such enterprises
the business district
c
: dealings or transactions especially of an economic nature : patronage
took their business elsewhere
2
a
: role, function
how the human mind went about its business of learning—
H. A. Overstreet
H. A. Overstreet b
: an immediate task or objective : mission
what is your business here
c
: a particular field of endeavor
the best in the business
3
: affair, matter
the whole business got out of hand
business as usual
4
a
: personal concern
none of your business
b
: right
you have no business speaking to me that way
5
a
: serious activity requiring time and effort and usually the avoidance of distractions
got down to business
b
: maximum effort
6
: creation, concoction
7
: movement or action (such as lighting a cigarette) by an actor intended especially to establish atmosphere, reveal character, or explain a situation
called also stage business
8
a
: a damaging assault
b
: rebuke, tongue-lashing
c
: double cross
9
: a bowel movement —used especially of pets
10
archaic : purposeful activity : busyness
Synonyms
- custom
- patronage
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Forever Odd is a direct sequel to 2003's Odd Thomas, the book in which we were introduced to the title character, a young man who can see the dead. They can't talk to him, but they can nudge him in the direction they want, which is usually to help them tidy up some unfinished business from when they were alive. —Charles De Lint, Fantasy & Science Fiction, May 2006 The Sun may never set, but air temperatures can plummet to -4 degrees Fahrenheit, and blinding snowstorms appear without warning. Sunbathing here can be risky business: even huddled in our parkas and boots, the members of our expedition live under the constant threat of frostbite and hypothermia. —Terrie M. Williams, Natural History, October 2003 Such high attrition means that most of the dot-coms here today will be gone tomorrow. The business environment is already harsh, and competition is growing. —Ann Thayer, Chemical & Engineering News, 5 June 2000 Lancaster and Columbia have plenty of history apart from the Civil War, of course. For example, Lancaster was home to F. W. Woolworth's first successful 5&10 and Milton S. Hershey's first successful candy business. —Lancaster New Era, 2 July 1996 The store has lost a significant amount of business since the factory closed. She works in the publishing business. David has decided to go into business with his brother. Their publishing company is the best in the business. I have to go to New York City on business next week. They advertised to increase business. He has the skills necessary to run a business. The town is trying to attract new businesses. Do we have any other business we need to discuss? No, I didn't ask him what he wanted the car for. That's his business. See More
Charles De Lint, Fantasy & Science Fiction, May 2006 The Sun may never set, but air temperatures can plummet to -4 degrees Fahrenheit, and blinding snowstorms appear without warning. Sunbathing here can be risky business: even huddled in our parkas and boots, the members of our expedition live under the constant threat of frostbite and hypothermia. —Terrie M. Williams, Natural History, October 2003 Such high attrition means that most of the dot-coms here today will be gone tomorrow. The business environment is already harsh, and competition is growing. —Ann Thayer, Chemical & Engineering News, 5 June 2000 Lancaster and Columbia have plenty of history apart from the Civil War, of course. For example, Lancaster was home to F. W. Woolworth's first successful 5&10 and Milton S. Hershey's first successful candy business. —Lancaster New Era, 2 July 1996 The store has lost a significant amount of business since the factory closed. She works in the publishing business. David has decided to go into business with his brother. Their publishing company is the best in the business. I have to go to New York City on business next week. They advertised to increase business. He has the skills necessary to run a business. The town is trying to attract new businesses. Do we have any other business we need to discuss? No, I didn't ask him what he wanted the car for. That's his business. See More Recent Examples on the Web Every business must be mindful of the dynamic cybersecurity landscape and take steps to address vulnerabilities before hackers have the chance to capitalize. —Mike Wilson, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. —Byleo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 14 Feb. 2023 For instance, a nursing home might appear unprofitable to regulators even though a related business running the in-house pharmacy is profitable. —Jayme Fraser, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2023 King makes the persuasive case that all that business about the queen was antisemitic code—in LaRouche’s view, Jewish high finance had so thoroughly subsumed the British Empire that the two were basically synonymous. —Tommy Craggs, The New Republic, 13 Feb. 2023 The talent-first studio’s business model calls for sharing a portion of each project’s profits with the performers and other creative talent involved. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2023 Paxton's staff accused him of misusing his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, whose business was also under federal investigation. —Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2023 The deal comes more than two years after Paxton's staff accused him of misusing his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, whose business was also under federal investigation. —CBS News, 10 Feb. 2023 But while Netflix’s EMEA business is now its biggest when looking at subscribers, in terms of revenue and average revenue per user (ARPU), North America still rules. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2023 See More
Mike Wilson, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. —Byleo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 14 Feb. 2023 For instance, a nursing home might appear unprofitable to regulators even though a related business running the in-house pharmacy is profitable. —Jayme Fraser, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2023 King makes the persuasive case that all that business about the queen was antisemitic code—in LaRouche’s view, Jewish high finance had so thoroughly subsumed the British Empire that the two were basically synonymous. —Tommy Craggs, The New Republic, 13 Feb. 2023 The talent-first studio’s business model calls for sharing a portion of each project’s profits with the performers and other creative talent involved. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2023 Paxton's staff accused him of misusing his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, whose business was also under federal investigation. —Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2023 The deal comes more than two years after Paxton's staff accused him of misusing his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, whose business was also under federal investigation. —CBS News, 10 Feb. 2023 But while Netflix’s EMEA business is now its biggest when looking at subscribers, in terms of revenue and average revenue per user (ARPU), North America still rules. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English bisynesse, from bisy busy + -nesse -ness
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 10
Phrases Containing business
Kids Definition
business
noun busi·ness ˈbiz-nəs -nəz
-nəz 1
: an activity that takes a major part of the time, attention, or effort of a person or group
2
a
: a commercial or industrial activity or organization
b
: the making, buying, and selling of goods and services
3
: something to be dealt with : affair, matter
a strange business
4
a
: personal concern
none of your business
b
: right entry 2 sense 2
you had no business saying that
business
noun
1
as in patronage
transactions or economic support provided by customers only places that are equal opportunity employers will get my business Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- patronage
- custom
- merchandising
- marketplace
- traffic
- dealings
- affairs
- trade
- retailing
- free trade
- wholesaling
- horse-trading
2
as in firm
a commercial or industrial activity or organization most of the local businesses belong to the association Synonyms & Similar Words
- firm
- company
- enterprise
- house
- corporation
- interest
- concern
- agency
- establishment
- association
- conglomerate
- multinational
- outfit
- dealer
- syndicate
- outlet
- chain
- cartel
- trust
- combine
- microenterprise
3
as in matter
something to be dealt with we have one piece of business remaining for today's meeting Synonyms & Similar Words
- matter
- thing
- problem
- affair
- issue
- crisis
- concern
- consideration
- emergency
- worry
- trouble
- care
- ball of wax
- responsibility
- predicament
- flash point
- exigency
- juncture
- hot water
- crunch
- strait
- zero hour
- standstill
- head
- corner
- pickle
- impasse
- halt
- spot
- jam
- fix
- hole
- deadlock
- pinch
- crossroad(s)
- stalemate
- lookout
- scrape
4
as in commerce
the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places this bookstore is a place of business, not a free library, so please do your reading elsewhere Synonyms & Similar Words
- commerce
- marketplace
- traffic
- trade
- dealings
- retailing
- merchandising
- free trade
- black market
- gray market
- wholesaling
- bartering
- e-tail
- horse-trading
5
as in job
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists plants going about the business of photosynthesis provide the Earth with a renewable source of oxygen Synonyms & Similar Words
- job
- purpose
- task
- role
- function
- work
- part
- place
- capacity
- position
- mission
- office
- vocation
- participation
- activity
- service
- situation
- involvement
- concern
- occupation
- affair
- rôle
- duty
- pursuit
- niche
- use
- responsibility
- calling
- post
- commission
- assignment
- hand
- employ
- charge
6
as in area
a region of activity, knowledge, or influence if you want a medical malpractice lawyer, he's the best in the business Synonyms & Similar Words
- area
- department
- domain
- realm
- field
- element
- walk
- sphere
- kingdom
- specialty
- arena
- territory
- province
- discipline
- game
- terrain
- circle
- front
- precinct
- bailiwick
- profession
- fiefdom
- study
- firmament
- subject
- line
- fief
- confine
- demesne
- barony
- pursuit
- occupation
- frontier
- vocation
- scope
- turf
- racket
- reach
- extent
- subspecialty
- breadth
- compass
- ambit
- sweep
- width
- amplitude
- subfield
- ken
- dimension(s)
7
as in mission
a specific task with which a person or group is charged the interrogators demanded to know what business the suspect had in the restricted area at that time of night Synonyms & Similar Words
- job
- mission
- operation
- assignment
- duty
- office
- responsibility
- post
- requirement
- brief
- work
- detail
- obligation
- charge
- labor
- need
- errand
- commitment
- burden
- commission
- chore
- promise
- designation
- appointment
- nomination
- pledge
- restraint
- constraint
- compulsion
8
as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another the price for giving the drug lord the business was certain death Synonyms & Similar Words
- treachery
- betrayal
- deception
- backstabbing
- double cross
- sellout
- treason
- lying
- infidelity
- deceit
- disloyalty
- abandonment
- perfidy
- fraud
- falseness
- duplicity
- unfaithfulness
- faithlessness
- falsity
- informing
- two-timing
- trickery
- desertion
- double-dealing
- snitching
- talebearing
- two-facedness
- guile
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loyalty
- allegiance
- devotion
- reliability
- faithfulness
- fidelity
- steadfastness
- defense
- fealty
- dependability
- protection
- trustworthiness
- shield
- safeguard
- staunchness
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of business are calling, employment, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.
the business of managing a hotel
In some situations, the words calling and business are roughly equivalent. However, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.
the ministry seemed my true calling
The words employment and business can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.
your employment with this firm is hereby terminated
Although the words métier and business have much in common, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.
acting was my one and only métier
The words occupation and business are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.
his occupation as a trained auto mechanic
While the synonyms pursuit and business are close in meaning, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.
her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit
The meanings of work and business largely overlap; however, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.
her work as a hospital volunteer
Phrases Containing business
- post-obit
- post-obit bond
- post-office address
- post-office car
- post-office order
- post-office red
- post-op
- post-Paleolithic
- post-po
- post-polio syndrome
- post-racial
- post-ref
- post-Reformation
- post-res
- post-resurrection
- post-ripeness
- post-romantic
- post-runner
- post-struc
- post-structuralism
- post-structuralist
- post-traumatic
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- post-Victorian
- postabdomen