Business glossary

20 Business terms for anybody studying in commerce. terms

In this glossary, you will find a list of 20 words that can help out any student or anyone looking to get in the field of commerce. These are the more frequently used words in the world of business. Hopefully, this glossary will help people to better understand what others are referring too in business meetings or in business documents.

acquisition

noun

The act of acquiring or gaining possession of something.

Example: The large company's acquisition of the family-owned business made many local residents angry.

fr: acquisition

analytics

noun

A careful and complete analysis of data using a model, usually performed by a computer.

Example: Our analytics have shown us that site traffic has gone up quite a bit this month.

fr: analyse de données

asset

noun

A person or thing that is valuable or useful to somebody/something.

Example: A new truck is a great asset for a transportation company.

fr: actif

bankruptcy

noun

The state of being bankrupt (not having enough money to pay what you owe).

Example: Unfortunately, we had to file for bankruptcy last year.

fr: faillite

bottleneck

noun

Anything that delays development or progress, particularly in business or industry.

Example: The process bottlenecks in this department because there aren't enough staff.

fr: ralentir

deliverable

Something, as merchandise, that is or can be delivered, especially to fulfill a contract.

Example: All deliverables are to be shipped within 30 days.

fr: livrable

dividend

noun

An amount of the profits that a company pays to people who own shares in the company.

Example: The members of the co-op will receive their dividends at the end of the fiscal year.

fr: bénéfice, dividende

globalization

noun

The process enabling financial and investment markets to operate internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communications.

Example: The globalization of credit makes finance much more complicated.

fr: mondialisation, globalisation, universalisation

incentivize

verb

To provide with an incentive.

Example: We should incentivize employees with stock options in the company.

fr: encourager ou favoriser

innovation

noun

The introduction of new things, ideas or ways of doing something.

Example: We are living the peak of technological innovations.

fr: innovation

liability

noun

The state of being legally responsible for something or someone.

Example: Because John's partners co-signed the loan for new equipment, they share liability for the loan payments.

fr: responsabilité ou engagement

liquidity

noun

The state of owning things of value that can easily be exchanged for cash.

Example: The liquidity of his stocks and bonds meant Peter had access to quick cash.

fr: liquidité

litigation

noun

The process of making or defending a claim in court.

Example: The company has been in litigation with its previous auditors for a full year.

fr: litige ou procès

margin

noun

An amount allowed or available beyond what is actually necessary.

Example: We need to leave a margin of error in the budget.

fr: marge

merger

noun

The act of joining two or more organizations or businesses into one.

Example: The management of the two companies met to discuss a merger.

fr: fusion

monetize

verb

To utilize (something of value) as a source of profit.

Example: Most people try to find a business partner who can help them monetize their products.

fr: monétiser

outsourcing

noun

Outsourcing (of something) (to somebody) is the process of arranging for somebody outside a company to do work or provide goods for that company.

Example: We use outsourcing for all our raw materials and components.

fr: sous-traitance ou externalisation

patent

noun

An official right to be the only person to make, use or sell a product or an invention; a document that proves this.

Example: We need to get the patent on our new product so no-one tries to copy our work.

fr: brevet

return on equity

phrase

The amount of profit computed by dividing net income before taxes less preferred dividends by the value of stockholders' equity, usually expressed as a percentage.

Example: We need to calculate the business' return on equity for 2023.

fr: rendement des capitaux propres

stakeholder

noun

A person or company that is involved in a particular organization, project, system, etc., especially because they have invested money in it.

Example: Jeff Bezos is a huge stakeholder in Amazon's company.

fr: partie intéressée, acteur, intervenant