venture capital

noun

: capital (such as retained corporate earnings or individual savings) invested or available for investment in the ownership element of new or fresh enterprise

called also risk capital

venture capitalism noun
venture capitalist noun

Examples of venture capital 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.
Private equity and venture capital are the top two categories expected to receive more investments among Gen Z and millennial principals, at 41% each. — Robert Frank, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 In 2018, Andreessen Horowitz made a splash in the venture capital world by launching a spinoff dedicated to digital assets called a16z Crypto. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 Founded in September 2025, Cloak is backed by the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz’s start-up accelerator program Speedrun and the University of Pennsylvania, per the company’s LinkedIn page. — J. Kim Murphy, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026 But only a tiny percentage of European pension fund assets are currently invested in venture capital. — Claas Mertens, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for venture capital

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of venture capital was in 1943

Rhymes for venture capital

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Browse Nearby Words

venture
venture capital
venturer
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Cite this Entry

“Venture capital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venture%20capital. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

venture capital

see also:
capital

More from Merriam-Webster on venture capital

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about venture capital

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