Say it like this
- Enterprise customer
- Enterprise-grade security
- Enterprise software
- Enterprise architecture
- Enterprise solution
Use it at work
Sales
- This is an enterprise customer, so they need SSO.
- Our enterprise plan includes a support SLA.
Product
- Enterprise clients want audit logs and roles.
- Let's build this for enterprise first.
In an interview
- I've worked on enterprise software for five years.
- Is the product more enterprise or SMB?
Don't say this
Enterprise alone refers to the company itself, not the solution. Use 'enterprise solution' or 'enterprise product' when describing what you are building.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| enterprise | Large companies as customers | Sales, product | Big deals |
| SMB | Small and medium businesses | Sales, product | Smaller deals |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your company is selling to large corporations. Which sounds most natural?
2. This cloud service provides _______ security and compliance features.
3. Which sentence uses 'enterprise' incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this using 'enterprise': 'We need to build a system that works for very large companies with strict security rules.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 5
"Enterprise customer"
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More about enterprise
Real examples(4)
- in a client meeting
"Our enterprise clients require 99.99% uptime and dedicated support teams."
- in a product planning meeting
"We need to focus on enterprise features like SSO and advanced permission management."
- in an interview
"I have five years of experience building enterprise infrastructure at scale."
- in a standup
"The enterprise team is working on improving database performance for large deployments."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse enterprise (large organization or ambitious project) with entrepreneur (person who starts a business). Enterprise is not typically used as a verb in modern tech English.
- ✕She is an enterprise.✓She is an entrepreneur.
Use 'entrepreneur' for a person who starts a business. Enterprise refers to organizations or projects, not people.
- ✕This is a very enterprise database.✓This is an enterprise-grade database.
Use the phrase 'enterprise-grade' when describing quality or capabilities designed for large organizations.
Other forms(3)
- enterprise noun
"The enterprise decided to migrate to the cloud."
- enterprise (used as modifier) adjective
"We offer enterprise pricing for large teams."
- enterprise-grade adjective
"Our product provides enterprise-grade security and compliance features."
Often used with(5)
- enterprise customer · A large organization that purchases your product or service
- enterprise software · Applications designed for large organizations with complex requirements
- enterprise-grade · A quality or capability suitable for large organizations; implies reliability and scalability
- enterprise architecture · The high-level design of how systems work together in a large organization
- enterprise solution · A comprehensive system or product designed to solve problems for large companies
Similar words(4)
- corporation · More formal legal term; enterprise is broader and includes projects or ventures
- organization · More general term; enterprise emphasizes the scale and business nature
- company · Simpler term; enterprise implies larger scale and complexity
- venture · Refers to a risky business undertaking; enterprise is more general
Opposites(3)
- consumer
- small business
- startup
Questions(5)
- What does enterprise mean in software engineering?
- In software engineering, enterprise refers to large-scale systems, solutions, and software designed for big organizations. Enterprise software is built to handle high volume, complex security requirements, compliance needs, and the ability to integrate with existing systems. It contrasts with consumer software, which is simpler and designed for individual users.
- What is the difference between enterprise and consumer software?
- Enterprise software is designed for large organizations and includes features like advanced security, compliance tools, integration capabilities, and scalability. Consumer software is designed for individual users and focuses on ease of use and affordability. Enterprise software typically costs more and requires more configuration.
- How do you use enterprise in a sentence at work?
- Common phrases include 'enterprise customer' (large company that buys your product), 'enterprise solution' (system for big organizations), and 'enterprise-grade' (high quality suitable for large organizations). Example: 'We need enterprise-level security for our new product.'
- Is enterprise formal or informal?
- Enterprise is neutral to formal. It is commonly used in professional business and tech contexts. It is appropriate for meetings, emails, presentations, and interviews.
- What does enterprise-grade mean?
- Enterprise-grade means that something meets the high standards required by large organizations. It implies reliability, security, scalability, and support suitable for mission-critical business use. Example: 'This database offers enterprise-grade performance.'
