Business — English Vocabulary
50 essential words about business in the live bank, with meanings and examples. Open any word for its full page.
launch /lɔːntʃ/ verb / noun B2
To start or introduce a new product, service, or project publicly; also to send a rocket or ship into space or water.
Example: The company will launch the app in June.
expand /ɪkˈspænd/ verb B2
To become larger in size, area, number, or activity; to make something larger.
Example: The chain plans to expand into Canada.
merge /mɜːrdʒ/ verb B2
To join together with another company or thing to become one.
Example: The two banks merged in 2022.
retail /ˈriːteɪl/ noun / adjective B2
The sale of goods directly to the public for their own use (not for resale).
Example: She works in retail management.
wholesale /ˈhəʊlseɪl/ noun / adjective B2
The sale of goods in large quantities to stores, which then sell them to the public.
Example: Shops buy at wholesale prices.
inventory /ˈɪnvəntɔːri/ noun B2
All the goods a company has in stock, ready to sell; also a complete list of items somewhere.
Example: The store counts inventory every month.
outsource /ˈaʊtsɔːrs/ verb B2
To arrange for work to be done by another company or people outside your own, often in another country, to save money.
Example: The firm outsourced its call center.
acquire /əˈkwaɪər/ verb B2
To gain or buy something, especially a company or property; to learn a skill or habit gradually.
Example: The group acquired a smaller rival.
warehouse /ˈweərhaʊs/ noun B2
A large building where goods are stored before being sold or sent out.
Example: The goods wait in a warehouse near the port.
shipment /ˈʃɪpmənt/ noun B2
A quantity of goods sent together from one place to another by ship, truck, plane, or train; the act of sending them.
Example: The shipment arrives on Friday.
product /ˈprɒdʌkt/ noun B2
Something that is made or grown to be sold.
Example: The company sells cleaning products online.
service /ˈsɜːrvɪs/ noun B2
Help or work provided for customers, instead of a physical thing; also an organized system like transport or healthcare.
Example: The hotel offers excellent service.
market /ˈmɑːrkɪt/ noun / verb B2
The business or trade in a particular product; the group of people who might buy it; also a place where things are sold.
Example: The phone market grows every year.
profit /ˈprɒfɪt/ noun B2
Money gained in business after paying all costs.
Example: The cafe made a small profit last year.
manager /ˈmænɪdʒər/ noun B2
The person in charge of a part of a company, a team, or a store.
Example: Our manager approved the new schedule.
employee /ɪmˈplɔɪiː/ noun B2
A person who works for a company or another person and receives pay.
Example: The company has 200 employees.
advertise /ˈædvərtaɪz/ verb B2
To tell the public about a product or service to encourage people to buy it.
Example: Small businesses advertise on social media.
competition /ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən/ noun B2
A situation where companies or people try to be more successful than others; also an organized contest.
Example: Competition between airlines keeps prices low.
brand /brænd/ noun B2
The name and image of a company's products that make them different from others.
Example: Nike is a famous sports brand.
industry /ˈɪndəstri/ noun B2
All the companies involved in one type of business activity.
Example: The car industry employs millions of people.
option /ˈɒpʃən/ noun B2
Something you can choose from a set of possibilities; a choice itself.
Example: We have two options for the trip.
consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ noun B2
A result or effect of an action, often a bad or serious one; what naturally follows from a decision.
Example: Every choice has consequences.
drawback /ˈdrɔːbæk/ noun B2
A disadvantage or problem that makes something less attractive or useful.
Example: The job's only drawback is the commute.
alternative /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/ noun / adjective B2
Something you can choose or do instead of another thing; a different possibility. Also describing non-traditional styles (alternative medicine, alternative music).
Example: Is there an alternative to surgery?
factor /ˈfæktər/ noun B2
One of the things that affects a situation, decision, or result; in mathematics, a number that divides another exactly.
Example: Cost was the main factor in our decision.
outcome /ˈaʊtkʌm/ noun B2
The final result of a process, event, or action — how something turns out in the end.
Example: The outcome of the election surprised everyone.
benefit /ˈbenɪfɪt/ noun / verb B2
An advantage or good effect gained from something; also money or help from the government or an employer (health benefits), and to gain an advantage (verb).
Example: Exercise has many benefits.
risk /rɪsk/ noun / verb B2
The possibility that something bad will happen; danger of loss or harm. Also to take a chance on something (verb).
Example: There's a risk of rain tomorrow.
impact /ˈɪmpækt/ noun / verb B2
A strong effect that something has on a situation or person; also the force when one thing hits another.
Example: The drought had a huge impact on farms.
criteria /kraɪˈtɪəriə/ noun B2
The standards or rules by which something is judged or chosen (plural of criterion).
Example: The criteria for the prize are strict.
entrepreneur /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːr/ noun C1
A person who starts a new business, taking financial risks in the hope of profit.
Example: The young entrepreneur opened three cafes in two years.
venture /ˈventʃər/ noun / verb C1
A new business activity involving risk; to go somewhere dangerous or to risk doing something.
Example: Their first venture failed in a year.
startup /ˈstɑːrtʌp/ noun C1
A new company, usually small and technology-based, designed to grow quickly.
Example: She works at a health-tech startup.
monopoly /məˈnɒpəli/ noun C1
A situation where one company controls an entire market, with no competition; the company itself.
Example: The phone company held a monopoly for decades.
franchise /ˈfræntʃaɪz/ noun C1
A right granted to a person or company to sell another company's products or services in a place, using its name and system.
Example: He bought a coffee franchise in Texas.
subsidiary /səbˈsɪdiəri/ noun C1
A company owned or controlled by a larger company.
Example: The airline is a subsidiary of a travel group.
shareholder /ˈʃeərhəʊldər/ noun C1
A person or organization that owns shares in a company and therefore part of it.
Example: Shareholders voted on the new director.
dividend /ˈdɪvɪdend/ noun C1
A sum of money paid regularly by a company to its shareholders out of its profits.
Example: The bank pays a dividend every quarter.
audit /ˈɔːdɪt/ noun / verb C1
An official examination of a company's accounts to check they are correct; to carry out such an examination.
Example: The annual audit found no problems.
liability /ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/ noun C1
A company's debts and legal obligations; also legal responsibility for damage, or a person/thing that causes problems.
Example: The firm's liabilities exceed its assets.
undertake /ˌʌndərˈteɪk/ verb C1
To begin doing something, especially a large or important task, and accept responsibility for it.
Example: The city will undertake a rebuild of the bridge.
implement /ˈɪmplɪment/ verb C1
To put a plan, system, or decision into action.
Example: The school will implement the new rules in September.
negotiate /nɪˈɡəʊʃieɪt/ verb C1
To discuss something with another side in order to reach an agreement.
Example: They negotiated the price for two days.
proposal /prəˈpəʊzəl/ noun C1
A formal plan or suggestion presented for others to consider and decide on.
Example: The board approved her proposal for a new lab.
agenda /əˈdʒendə/ noun C1
The list of items to be discussed at a meeting; also a person's hidden plan or priorities.
Example: The first item on the agenda is the budget.
stakeholder /ˈsteɪkˌhəʊldər/ noun C1
A person or group with an interest in a business or project and affected by its results — employees, investors, customers, the community.
Example: The school consulted all stakeholders before changing hours.
merger /ˈmɜːrdʒər/ noun C1
The act of combining two companies into one.
Example: The merger created the country's largest airline.
enterprise /ˈentərpraɪz/ noun C1
A company or business, especially a new or large one; also the spirit of starting new projects and taking risks.
Example: She built a small enterprise from her kitchen table.
compliance /kəmˈplaɪəns/ noun C1
The act of following official rules, laws, and standards; the department that checks this in a company.
Example: The factory passed its compliance inspection.
initiative /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ noun C1
A new plan or action intended to solve a problem or improve something; also the ability to act without being told.
Example: The city launched a recycling initiative.