noun

unicorn

/ˈjuːnɪkɔːrn/ · say it: YOO·nuh·korn

a private startup valued at over a billion dollars

In From the Business Pages

In more detail

1. (noun) a legendary animal that looks like a horse with a single long straight horn growing from its forehead

2. (noun) a private company valued at over one billion dollars

Examples

1. The child drew a picture of a unicorn with a spiraling horn.
2. The startup became a unicorn after its latest funding round.

How to use unicorn

As a mythological creature, unicorn refers to a horse-like being in folklore and fantasy, often symbolizing purity or magic. In modern business contexts, particularly in venture capital and startups, 'unicorn' denotes a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion—a rare achievement that inspired the metaphorical term. The business sense has become increasingly common in financial and tech media since the 2010s.

Common phrases

unicorn horn
ride a unicorn
unicorn startup
unicorn company
unicorn valuation

Synonyms

mythical beast · legendary creature · startup

Word family

unicorn (noun) · unicorns (plural)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes assume 'unicorn' in modern business contexts is used metaphorically to suggest something magical or perfect, when it is actually a specific technical term for a particular valuation milestone with no judgment implied about quality.

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