| public enterprise | |
| —n | |
| Compare private enterprise economic activity by governmental organizations | |
00:10
00:09
00:08
00:07
00:06
00:05
00:04
00:03
00:02
00:01
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| Main Entry: | public enterprise1 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | any activity done in public |
| Example: | Celebrities conduct their private lives as public enterprise. |
| Etymology: | 1643 |
| Main Entry: | public enterprise2 |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | any economic activity carried out by the government; also, a business or industry controlled by the government |
| Example: | Utilities (gas, electricity, etc.), broadcasting, telecommunications, and certain forms of transport are examples of public enterprise. |
| Etymology: | 1849 |
public enterprise
a business organization wholly or partly owned by the state and controlled through a public authority. Some public enterprises are placed under public ownership because, for social reasons, it is thought the service or product should be provided by a state monopoly. Utilities (gas, electricity, etc.), broadcasting, telecommunications, and certain forms of transport are examples of this kind of public enterprise.
Learn more about public enterprise with a free trial on Britannica.com.