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free-enterprise

free-enterprise

2 4.7
Supporting a system where private businesses compete with little government control
  • adjective
  • /friː ˈɛn.tɚ.prɪs/
translation icon : libre empresa
  • Many entrepreneurs thrive in a free-enterprise system where competition drives innovation.
  • free-enterprise system

Examples

  • They will be an owner of society and a participant in our free-enterprise system, our capitalist system.

    Blog text (7)
  • In fact, South Africa never bore much resemblance to a liberal, free-enterprise system.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Economists sometimes forget that property rights are the basic foundation of a free-enterprise system.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Yet its existence and its location are strong signals of the government's commitment to the restoration of a free-enterprise order.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Jordan is basically a free-enterprise and market-oriented economy.

    Academic text (1992)
  • President Romney simply has to be himself: a conservative believer in free enterprise, low taxes, and far fewer regulations that are ruining businesses everywhere.

    Blog text (19)
  • In free-enterprise countries, property rights, the commercial code, commercial and investment banks, security and commodity markets, insurance companies, auditing codes, and myriad other institutions grew and evolved over the years.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Skeptics hold the view that African political leaders are often apprehensive about economic integration due to the fact that in a situation of open markets and free enterprise, the gains of member states will be a function of the degree of their economic development and/or the size of their domestic economies.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Such an arrangement resonates with American free-enterprise ideals and also with the widespread American disdain for 'experts' and 'intellectuals'.

    Academic text (2008)
  • People have listened carefully to his pro-growth, free-enterprise, increase-take-home-pay vision for our anemic economy, which is growing at the slowest pace in modern times, going back to 1947.

    Blog text (25)

Synonyms

capitalist
vsfree-enterprise
11 4.1

Relating to or supporting private business and free markets

focuses on competition and low government interference rather than general backing
laissez-faire
vsfree-enterprise
  • Formal
7 8.7

Allowing businesses to operate with little government control

supports private competition while not insisting on minimal government intervention
private-enterprise
vsfree-enterprise
1 6.1

Relating to businesses owned and run by people or companies to make profit, not the state

stresses competition and being largely free from state control rather than ownership
pro-capitalist
vsfree-enterprise
6.4

Supporting a system where businesses are privately owned and compete

is more specific about competition and limited state control than broad support

Antonyms

192 5.0

A system where the state or people own important businesses and services

The government owns and runs an organization or service instead of private companies

How Market-Oriented

market fundamentalism
  • Literature
1 7.9
laissez-faire
  • Formal
7 8.7
free-enterprise
2 4.7
mixed economy
  • Specialized
2 4.1

Surface Forms

free-enterprise positive

Morphology

free-enterprise = free + enterprise (transparent) = free + enterprise

The meaning is directly inferable from the common words 'free' and 'enterprise' (business operating with minimal state control).

Etymology

Free-enterprise comes from two simple parts: free meaning 'without restriction' and enterprise meaning 'a business or project'. So free-enterprise describes an economy where people and companies can start and run businesses with little government control.