Essential Business Vocabulary and Professional Terminology

Business Vocabulary A-H

  • Alternatively: We can sell the product online; alternatively, we can open a small shop in the city.
  • As a result: The company lost many customers and, as a result, it made less profit this year.
  • Attach: Please attach the document to the email before you send it.
  • Become less productive: Workers become less productive when they are tired or stressed.
  • Because of this debt: Because of this debt, the company cannot invest in new projects.
  • Boost: Good marketing can boost sales in a short time.
  • But: The product is good, but it is too expensive for many customers.
  • Call to action: The advert ends with a call to action to visit the website.
  • Combine: The company decided to combine two small teams into one bigger team.
  • Competitive advantage: Low prices give the company a competitive advantage in the market.
  • Consequently: The shop closed; consequently, the workers lost their jobs.
  • Conversely: Big companies have more resources; conversely, small companies are more flexible.
  • Corporate greed: Some people think corporate greed causes unfair working conditions.
  • Dividend: The company gives a dividend to its shareholders every year.
  • Embargo: The government put an embargo on products from that country.
  • Endeavour: Starting a business is a difficult but exciting endeavour.
  • Exploited: Some workers feel exploited because they get very low salaries.
  • Exporter: Spain is an exporter of food and wine.
  • Fair trade: Fair trade products help workers get better pay.
  • Feasible: Opening a new store in that city is feasible with enough money.
  • Finally: After many meetings, the company finally agreed on a plan.
  • Focus: Employees need to focus on customers’ needs.
  • Furthermore: The product is cheap; furthermore, it is easy to use.
  • Free trade agreement: The two countries signed a free trade agreement to help business.
  • Garment industry: Many workers in the garment industry work in factories.
  • GDP: Tourism helps increase the country’s GDP.
  • Given these circumstances: Given these circumstances, the company decided to reduce costs.
  • Grab attention: Bright colours in ads grab attention quickly.
  • Hail from: Our new manager hails from France.
  • High-stakes: It was a high-stakes meeting with important investors.
  • Hook: The first sentence of the ad is a hook to attract customers.
  • Hotspots: Big cities are hotspots for new business ideas.
  • However: The product is expensive; however, it is very high quality.

Business Vocabulary I-W

  • Illusion: Social media can create an illusion of success.
  • Importer: The company is an importer of electronic products.
  • In light of the crisis: In light of the crisis, the company reduced spending.
  • Inner peace: Some people change jobs to find inner peace.
  • In spite of this: Sales were low; in spite of this, the company kept going.
  • Labour cost: Labour costs are lower in some countries.
  • Low wages: Many workers complain about low wages.
  • Lone wolf: He is a lone wolf and prefers working alone.
  • Material possessions: Some people care too much about material possessions.
  • Meaningful: Helping people gives him a meaningful job.
  • Moreover: The phone is cheap; moreover, it works very well.
  • Mounting: There is mounting pressure on companies to go green.
  • Nevertheless: The situation was hard; nevertheless, the company survived.
  • Obsessed (with): He is obsessed with growing his business.
  • Oblivious: The manager was oblivious to the workers’ problems.
  • Out of balance: Working too much makes life feel out of balance.
  • Overwhelming: Running a big company can be overwhelming.
  • Pitch: She gave a short pitch to explain her idea to investors.
  • Plugged into: Young people are always plugged into social media.
  • Prestige: Working for a big company gives prestige.
  • Protectionism: Protectionism protects local companies from foreign competition.
  • Purpose in life: A good job can give people a purpose in life.
  • Quota: The government set a quota on imported cars.
  • Reserve: The company reserves money for future problems.
  • Resonate: His message resonated with many employees.
  • Separate from: The company separated from its partner last year.
  • Smorgasbord: The meeting offered a smorgasbord of business ideas.
  • Stand out: Good service helps a company stand out.
  • Substantial: The company made substantial profits this year.
  • Succeed / progress: If you work hard, you will succeed in your job.
  • Sustainable: Many companies want to use sustainable energy.
  • Sweatshop: Some clothes are made in sweatshops.
  • Tariff: The government added a tariff on imported goods.
  • Therefore: Sales increased; therefore, the company hired more workers.
  • Trade war: A trade war can make products more expensive.
  • Transform: Technology can transform how companies work.
  • Transformation: The company changed a lot after its digital transformation.
  • Triggers: Bad news can trigger problems for a company.
  • Thus: Sales increased; thus, the company earned more money.
  • Wake-up call: Losing customers was a wake-up call for the company.