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.
Marc Andreesen and Ben Horowitz are co-founders and partners of the venture capital firm that bears their initials. — Eric Lau, Washington Post, 25 June 2026 Munich counts on its historically strong venture capital market. — Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Beyond entertainment, Harris has a deep background in tech, law, and venture capital, previously holding leadership roles at Meta, Uber, and Slack. — Parents, 24 June 2026 The battle comes at a pivotal moment for prediction markets, which have raised billions in venture capital, as companies like Polymarket face scrutiny over allegations of insider trading and money laundering. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 24 June 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

See All Rhymes for venture capital

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 7 Jul. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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