business venture

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A new business activity or project that involves risk, especially one that is intended to make a profit.

   Grammar: Countable; you can say 'a business venture' or 'business ventures'.

   Patterns

   • start a business venture
   • a joint business venture
   • a risky business venture

   They started a business venture selling handmade furniture online.

   The joint business venture between the two airlines was announced last week.

   After retiring, he began a new business venture in organic farming.

2. 2nouncountable

   A commercial undertaking that involves uncertainty and possible financial loss.

   Grammar: Often used with 'risky' or 'successful'.

   Patterns

   • a risky business venture
   • a successful business venture

   Investing in a restaurant is a risky business venture.

   Her first business venture failed, but she learned a lot.

Word forms

Common combinations

start a business venture

He started a business venture with two friends from college.

joint business venture

The joint business venture allowed both companies to share costs.

risky business venture

Opening a shop in a small town can be a risky business venture.

successful business venture

Their successful business venture now employs over fifty people.

Synonyms and how they differ

enterprise

More formal and can refer to any large project or company, not just a new risky one.

startup

Specifically a new company, often in technology; 'business venture' is broader and can include a new project within an existing company.

undertaking

Formal and can refer to any task or project, not necessarily commercial.

Word family

venture verb

To risk going somewhere or doing something.

venturesome adjective

Willing to take risks.

Commonly confused: business venture or adventure?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “business venture”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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