business

Reading level: easy

Estimated CEFR level: A1 — Beginner

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
  2. noun the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects
  3. noun the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

Etymology

From Middle English busines, busynes, businesse, bisynes, from Old English bisiġnes (“business, busyness”), equivalent to busy + -ness. Doublet of busyness. Sense 17 (something very good, top quality), possibly derives from "the bee's knees"

In classic literature

Synonyms

concern, business concern, business organization, business organisation

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