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free enterprise

free enterprise

30 3.8
A system where private businesses compete and the market sets prices with little government control
  • noun
  • /fri ˈɛn.tɚ.prɪs/
translation icon : libre empresa
  • In a free enterprise economy, prices are determined by competition, not by the government.
  • free enterprise system
  • free enterprise model
  • free enterprise economy

We went from almost pure free enterprise and we've been gradually introducing socialism.

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Examples

  • We invented the free enterprise system where anybody, no matter who he was, where he came from, what class he belonged to, if he came up with a better idea about anything, there's no limit to how far he could go.

  • That's what capitalism is: a system of free enterprise.

  • This is an attack on the free enterprise system.

  • Engaging in the American free enterprise system.

  • Free enterprise, dude, is the basis of Western democracy.

  • Radical criticism of the free enterprise system has, for the most part, followed the same general line.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Charges of market failure constitute one important type of efficiency criticism of the free enterprise system.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Time and again, philosopher-critics of the free enterprise system have failed to do this.

    Academic text (1990)
  • In the same vein, Eastern Europe can be viewed as moving toward a free enterprise zone.

    Academic text (1992)
  • South Africa, unfortunately, faces formidable barriers to the establishment of a free enterprise society based on private rights.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

capitalism
vsfree enterprise
292 3.8

A system where people or companies own businesses and property to make money

highlights open competition and reduced state control beyond profit focus
market economy
vsfree enterprise
  • Specialized
93 3.0

A system where people and businesses buy and sell goods and prices are set by supply and demand

stresses private businesses competing with limited state control rather than just allocation
private enterprise
vsfree enterprise
14 3.9

Businesses owned and run by people or companies, not the government

focuses more on competition and low state control than just ownership
capitalist economy
vsfree enterprise
4 4.2

An economic system where private people or companies own businesses and try to make money

emphasizes competition and market pricing rather than only profit motive
laissez-faire economy
vsfree enterprise
  • Specialized
7.2

An economy where businesses operate with little government control

is similar but allows some state control rather than almost none

Antonyms

state capitalism
  • Specialized
2 6.8

An economy where the government owns or controls many businesses in a market system

How Free

laissez-faire economy
  • Specialized
7.2
free enterprise
30 3.8
mixed economy
  • Specialized
2 4.1
regulated
4.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

free + enterprise

The meaning is directly built from 'free' (without constraints) modifying 'enterprise' (a business or commercial organization), so a learner who knows both words can infer an economic system where businesses operate with limited state control. This is a straightforward modifier+noun composition and corresponds to a common cross-linguistic concept, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Free enterprise comes from a simple picture: free means 'not controlled' and enterprise means a business, so it describes businesses set free to act and compete. That's why it means 'private businesses' operating with little government control.