startup

or start-up

[ stahrt-uhp ]

noun

1. the act or fact of starting something; a setting in motion.
2. a new business venture, or a new commercial or industrial project:

   a small, 5-month-old internet startup.

adjective

1. of or relating to the beginning of such a venture or project, especially to an investment made to initiate it:

   high start-up costs for construction of a new facility.

Word History and Origins

Origin of startup¹

First recorded in 1550–60; noun use of verb phrase start up

Example Sentences

The head of an education technology startup that created a highly touted chatbot for the Los Angeles school system has been arrested and charged with fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

At the startups, those who’ve worked in the industry for decades provide “invaluable” knowledge that simply isn’t in textbooks, industry workers say.

From Los Angeles Times

It would hurt major truck makers and could destroy electric truck startup companies, while giving the long-delayed Tesla Semi time to catch up.

From Los Angeles Times

His lab created a promising material in 2015 that was further developed by Long's startup company, Mosaic Materials, which in 2022 was acquired by the energy technology company Baker Hughes.

From Science Daily

The researchers are creating a startup to commercialize this technology.

From Science Daily