business

[biz-nis]

noun

1. an occupation, profession, or trade.

   His business is poultry farming.

   Synonyms: employment, vocation, calling

2. the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.

   Synonyms: traffic, trade, commerce

3. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern.

   Synonyms: firm, company

4. volume of trade; patronage.

   Most of the store's business comes from local families.

5. a building or site where commercial work is carried on, as a factory, store, or office; place of work.

   His business is on the corner of Broadway and Elm Street.

6. that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned.

   Words are a writer's business.

7. something with which a person is rightfully concerned.

   What they are doing is none of my business.

8. affair; project.

   We were exasperated by the whole business.

9. an assignment or task; chore.

   It's your business to wash the dishes now.

10. Also called stage business. Also called piece of business,. Theater.,  a movement or gesture, especially a minor one, used by an actor to give expressiveness, drama, detail, etc., to a scene or to help portray a character.

11. excrement: used as a euphemism.

adjective

1. of, noting, or pertaining to business, its organization, or its procedures.

2. containing, suitable for, or welcoming business or commerce.

   New York is a good business town.

business

/ ˈbɪznɪs /

noun

1. a trade or profession

2. an industrial, commercial, or professional operation; purchase and sale of goods and services

   the tailoring business

3. a commercial or industrial establishment, such as a firm or factory

4. commercial activity; dealings (esp in the phrase do business )

5. volume or quantity of commercial activity

   business is poor today

6. commercial policy or procedure

   overcharging is bad business

7. proper or rightful concern or responsibility (often in the phrase mind one's own business )

8. a special task; assignment

9. a matter or matters to be attended to

   the business of the meeting

10. an affair; matter

    a queer business

    I'm tired of the whole business

11. serious work or activity

    get down to business

12. a complicated affair; rigmarole

13. informal,  a vaguely defined collection or area

    jets, fast cars, and all that business

14. Also called: stage business. theatre an incidental action, such as lighting a pipe, performed by an actor for dramatic effect

15. a group of ferrets

16. euphemistic,  defecation (esp in the phrase do one's business )

17. slang,  prostitution

18. informal,  extremely well or fast

19. to be in earnest

20. informal,  to achieve what is required

    it tastes vile, but it does the business

Pronunciation Note

See isn't.

Other Word Forms

• antibusiness adjective
• interbusiness adjective
• multibusiness adjective
• nonbusiness adjective
• overbusiness noun
• probusiness adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of business¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English bisignes; busy + -ness

Word History and Origins

Origin of business¹

Old English bisignis solicitude, attentiveness, from bisig _busy + -nis _-ness

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. business is business, profit has precedence over personal considerations.

   He is reluctant to fire his friend, but business is business.

2. have no business, to have no right.

   You have no business coming into this house.

3. mean business, to propose to take action or be serious in intent; be in earnest.

   By the fire in his eye we knew that he meant business.

4. do one's business, (usually of an animal or child) to defecate or urinate.

   housebreaking a puppy to do his business outdoors.

5. mind one's own business, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others.

   When he inquired about the noise coming from the neighbor's apartment, he was told to mind his own business.

6. get down to business, to apply oneself to serious matters; concentrate on work.

   They finally got down to business and signed the contract.

7. give someone the business,

   1. to make difficulties for someone; treat harshly.

      Instead of a straight answer they give him the business with a needless run-around.

   2. to scold severely; give a tongue-lashing to.

      The passengers will give the bus driver the business if he keeps driving so recklessly.

More idioms and phrases containing business

• funny business
• get down to (business)
• go about (one's business)
• have no business doing
• land-office business
• like mad (nobody's business)
• make it one's business
• mean business
• mind one's own business
• monkey business
• none of one's business
• out of business
• send someone about his or her business
• the business

Synonym Study

See occupation.

Example Sentences

Unlike many other oldies acts, Volman and Kaylan possessed sharp business skills, acquired after their messy fallout with their record label, White Whale.

From Los Angeles Times

Mayweather said: “There hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy. ... I’m the best in the business of boxing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Four years later, Aspiration, a sustainability firm that also generated and sold carbon credits, is out of business.

From Los Angeles Times

Employment Judge Michael Magee said that Ms Lanuszka's dismissal coincided with the permanent move to the UK of the business owner's sister.

From BBC

Bruland, who had her own bookkeeping business, started transferring large amounts of money from the couple's joint account in July 2022, and by December it was virtually empty.

From BBC

Related Words

• corporation 
• factory 
• firm 
• house 
• institution 
• market 
• organization 
• partnership 
• shop 
• store 
• venture 

When To Use

What does business mean?

Business is the sale of goods or services to try to make a profit, as in Restaurants are a tough business, with many restaurants closing in the first few years.Business is also used to refer to any person or group of people that operate with the purpose of making money, as in Yen and Tao went into business walking the dogs in their neighborhood.Business is also used to refer to the sales and money brought in by a business, as in Even though we had a lot of visitors to the store, business was slow over the weekend.Business has many other senses related to work and trade, but it can also refer to someone’s personal concern or interest. Your feelings, for example, are your own business.Business can also be used as an adjective to describe anything related to the workings of a profession or exchange of money, as in The business office is closed on weekends, but the store is usually open.Example: Some small businesses make more money in this town than the chains do.