State Enterprise
/ˌsteɪt ˈen.tə.praɪz/noun
A business or organization owned and operated by a government.
Did you know?The word “enterprise” comes from Old French entreprendre, meaning “to undertake,” while “state” descends from Latin status, “a standing condition”—together, the phrase frames government as an entity that stands behind and undertakes economic power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“to stand; to be positioned”
Ancient Latin
Latin
status
“a standing, condition, or legal position”
12th Century
Old French
estat
“condition, rank, or political community”
13th Century
Old French
entreprendre
“to undertake or begin an activity”
15th Century
English
enterprise
“an undertaking, especially a bold or difficult one”
17th–18th Century
English
state enterprise
“an undertaking or business controlled by the state”
Modern English
English
state enterprise
“a government-owned and operated business”