noun

startup

/ˈstɑːrtʌp/ · say it: START·up

a young company built to grow fast

In Business & Marketing

In more detail

1. (noun) a newly established business or company

2. (noun) the act or process of beginning to operate or function

Examples

1. She left her job to work for a tech startup in Silicon Valley.
2. The startup of the new factory was delayed by equipment problems.

How to use startup

Startup is widely used in business and technology contexts to refer to new companies, particularly those in their early growth phase. It can also denote the process of initiating operations. The term carries a sense of entrepreneurial energy and often implies innovation or risk, though it is now mainstream and neutral rather than informal.

Common phrases

startup company
startup founder
startup ecosystem
startup costs
startup phase
tech startup

Synonyms

new venture · new company · fledgling business · launch · beginning

Opposites

established company · incumbent

Word family

start (verb) · starter (noun) · starting (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use startup as an adjective incorrectly (e.g., 'startup business' instead of 'a startup' or 'startup costs'); while 'startup' can function attributively, it is most naturally used as a noun or as a noun adjunct rather than as a true adjective.

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