free enterprise

noun

: freedom of private business to organize and operate for profit in a competitive system without interference by government beyond regulation necessary to protect public interest and keep the national economy in balance

Examples of free enterprise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That’s free enterprise — but Broward would pony up $17 million for the land and closing costs. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026 Smith has never been the indefatigable champion of free enterprise imagined by his acolytes. — Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026 Calls for a global wealth tax, massive new aid commitments, or other significant expansions of state redistribution often rest on the premise that trade and free enterprise have failed to deliver shared gains. — Chelsea Follett, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026 Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acts more like a Soviet-style commissar than a champion of free enterprise. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for free enterprise

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free enterprise was in 1890

Rhymes for free enterprise

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Browse Nearby Words

free energy
free enterprise
free enterpriser
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Cite this Entry

“Free enterprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20enterprise. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

free enterprise

noun
: freedom of private business to operate with little regulation by the government
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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