Origin: Germanic Old English suffix
Business has 11 different meanings across 1 category:
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
"he bought his brother's business"
"a small mom-and-pop business"
"a racially integrated business concern"
the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects
"computers are now widely used in business"
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
"he's not in my line of business"
the volume of commercial activity
"business is good today"
"show me where the business was today"
incidental activity performed by an actor for dramatic effect
"his business with the cane was hilarious"
A specific commercial enterprise or establishment.
"The new coffee shop is already a successful business in that busy neighborhood."
In plain English: A business is an organization that sells products or services to make money.
"She decided to start her own business selling handmade jewelry."
Usage: Use "business" to refer to a specific company, shop, or professional practice where goods are sold or services are provided. You can also apply it generally to any serious activity or occupation, such as attending to daily tasks.
Of, to, pertaining to or utilized for purposes of conducting trade, commerce, governance, advocacy or other professional purposes.
"The committee voted unanimously on the new business regarding the company's expansion into international markets."
In plain English: Business means something that is serious and done for work instead of just having fun.
"The business center in the lobby was open twenty-four hours a day for travelers to make calls and use computers."
Usage: Use business as an adjective only when describing something directly related to work, trade, or professional activities, such as business attire or business hours. Avoid using it to mean "serious" or "important," which are incorrect everyday interpretations of the word.
The word business comes from Middle English and originally meant the state of being busy. While it is a doublet of busyness, it also developed an older meaning referring to something of top quality, possibly influenced by the phrase "the bee's knees."