WordGarden.iostartup
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈɑːtʌp/
US
- /ˈstɑrˌtəp/
Meanings
Noun
a newly founded company, especially one built for rapid growth
the process or initial phase of getting a machine, program, or operation running
Adjective
relating to newly founded companies or startup culture
Beyond the definition
A "startup" is usually a young company that is just beginning to build its product or service and find its place in the market. It is not simply any new business. The idea often includes something new, a plan to grow fast, and a lot of testing and change in the early stage. Think of it as a small project with big hopes, still trying to prove that it can work.
People often use the word for tech companies, but it can apply in many fields. A small local shop is not usually described this way, while a new company building a fresh app, tool, or service often is. The word suggests energy, risk, and the possibility of quick growth.
The word "startup" refers to a young company in the early stage of building its product, service, and business model. It usually describes more than a business that has just opened. In most cases, the company is trying to introduce something new or improve an existing idea in a way that can reach many users or customers. Because of that, the word often carries a sense of experimentation, ambition, and uncertainty.
The term became especially common through the tech world, but it is now used much more widely. You can hear it in discussions about software, health, education, finance, food, transport, and many other industries. Even so, people do not usually use it for every small new business. A family-run corner store may be a new business, but it is less likely to be called a startup than a young company trying to build a product, attract investors, and grow quickly.
Startups often work in changing conditions. They may still be testing what customers want, adjusting their plans, and searching for a stable way to make money. That is why the word is often linked with risk, fast learning, and frequent change. Some receive outside funding, such as money from investors, but that is common rather than required.
You might also hear related expressions such as "startup culture," which often suggests a fast-moving workplace with small teams and flexible roles. Some of these companies grow into major businesses, while many others remain small or close down. So, when people use the word "startup," they usually mean a young business with a new idea and the hope of growing beyond a small local operation.
Examples
- 1
Career move
She left her corporate job to join a health-tech startup.
- 2
Fundraising
The startup is trying to raise money for its first product.
- 3
Work culture
Working at a startup can be exciting, but the hours are often long.
- 4
Business costs
They kept startup costs low by working from home at first.
- Phrasestartup costs
the money needed to begin a business
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Acquisition
After two years of fast growth, the startup was bought by a larger company.
- 6
Computer boot
I turned off the apps that open at startup because they slow my laptop down.
- Domainat startup
when a computer first starts running
See also
Similar
- new business
- new venture
- young company
Shades of meaning
- early-stage company
- scale-up
- unicorn
Contrast
- established company
- incumbent
Used with (collocations)
- tech startup
- startup founder
- startup funding
- startup ecosystem
Word family
Explore
- entrepreneurship
- venture capital
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- startupnoun
Forms
- startupspluralnoun