In order to succeed in business, it is important to have a strong vocabulary. By learning and using common business English words and phrases, you can communicate more effectively with clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
This article will provide a list of some of the most important business English vocabulary words.
Business English Vocabulary (Meaning and Examples)
- Admit: to accept or acknowledge something.
Example: I admit that I made a mistake.
- Acquire: to obtain, usually through purchase or negotiation.
Example: We acquired a new building for our office.
- Asset: any item of value owned by a company or person.
Example: The company’s main asset is its reputation.
- Budget: an estimate of income and expenses over a certain period of time.
Example: We need to create a budget for the next fiscal year.
- Compete: to strive against others in order to achieve a goal.
Example: The two companies are competing for market share.
- Consult: to seek out advice or information from an expert source.
Example: We consulted with a lawyer before making a decision.
- Discount: a reduction of the usual price of something.
Example: The store is offering a 10% discount on all items.
- Establish: to set up or found something, usually an organization or business.
Example: She established her own consulting firm.
- Expand: to increase in size or scope.
Example: The company is expanding into new markets.
- Forecast: a prediction of future events or outcomes based on current trends and data.
Example: The forecast suggests that the economy will grow next year.
Business English Vocabulary
| ability | absent | approach |
| big data | buyer | cold call |
| coworking | digital strategy | employer’s liability |
| leverage | minutes | ordinary share |
| plan | propelling | registered mail |
| screen | stakeholder | tenant |
| underpin | application | benefit |
| business | client | coupon |
| development | empiric | fiction |
| grant | input | lengthen |
| message | opportunity cost | personnel officer |
| prolific | Refund | sample |
| sponsor | taxonomy | twist someone’s arm |
| admit | attorney | blue-chip stocks |
| cargo | comprehensive | cut-throat |
| diversify | establish | foreign exchange |
| hereinafter | invest | low Hanging Fruit |
| mutual fund | overhead | poster |
| store | to enclose | value |
| appendix | benchmarking | bureau de change |
| click | counter-productive | develop |
| emerging markets | feedback | goods in transit |
| initial order | lend | merger |
| opportunity | personnel department | project |
| reference | same boat | split |
| task | turnover | advantage |
| author | board | case |
| condition | date of birth | document |
| irrevocable | lucrative | native language |
| owe | preferential rate | quarterly |
| representative | shipment | strategy |
| to invoice | verdict | air freight |
| bandwidth | brand awareness | charge |
| convince | deliver | duty free |
| knowledge | market research | objective |
| revenue | slide | supervise |
| trader | whiteboard | addressee |
| attendee | bleeding edge | career |
| complete | customs | distribution |
| equity | forecast | herein |
| inventory | loss adjuster | multitude |
| repeat order | share | stopover |
| to be short-listed | valid | alignment |
| bank charges | bridging loan | check in |
| copyright | demystify | e-commerce |
| facilitate | get the ball rolling | included |
| landlord | mass media | offer |
| paying-in slip | product | Receipt |
| risk | smooth sailing | supply chain |
| training | with reference to | advice |
| available | body language | cash refund offer |
| confirmation | debt | downsell |
| exchange | fringe benefits | immigration officer |
| jingle | make redundant | networking |
| packing list | presentation | quotation |
| respond | shopping Centre | subscribe |
| to retail | viral marketing | afford |
| background | bottom line | certificate of origin |
| consultant | decision | drill down |
| expand | full-time (job) | improvement |
| judge | managing director | non profit organization |
| paradigm | price | Range |
| retail price | sick leave | Success |
| to whom it may concern | warehouse | aisle |
| bank account | break | check |
| coordinate | delivery | easy come, easy go |
| eye-catcher | get something off the ground | Incentivize |
| labour | marketing department | obtain |
| payee | produce | Rebate |
| rise | slot | supply |
| trainee | wholesaler | acquisition |
| articles of association | billboard | campaign |
| communicate | crowdfunding | discreet |
| enquiry | fluent | hardback |
| interest | limit | mortgage |
| output | point of sale | provide |
| remittance | send | statement of account |
| thousand | unsaleable | agreement |
| ballot | brand | change |
| contract | defendant | duly signed |
| exponential | game plan | in conclusion,… |
| keyboard | market | notorious |
| part-time (job) | prioritize | reach a consensus |
| retire | skill set | sum up |
| trade union | wheelhouse | amplify |
| bargain price | broadsheet | choose |
| corner the market | departures board | editing |
| factory | go down the drain | index |
| lawyer | measure | on the same page |
| penny stock | production | recipient |
| runway | software | tabloid |
| transcend | word of mouth | acknowledge |
| article | bill of lading | call |
| commodities | critic | discount |
| end-user | flip chart | hard currency |
| insurance broker | lift | money order |
| out of pocket | plus | prospects |
| reminder | sell | statement |
| think outside the box | unpack | annotate |
| barrister | budget | cite |
| correspondent | deposit account | editorial |
| fall | go public | industry |
| leadership | meeting | online banking |
| peripheral | profit | recruit |
| transport | worker | annual leave |
| bearish market | building | clarify |
| cost of sales | descend | elevator |
| feature | goal | inflation |
| Learn the ropes | mention | operations |
| permission | profit margin | red tape |
| trillion | agent | balance sheet |
| branch | challenge | content |
| deep dive | due | explanation |
| Futures | in bulk | key words |
| marker | notice | party |
| skill | suggestion | trade fair |
| weakness | advance payment | augment |
| blurb | carriage paid to | concept |
| date | dividend | estimate |
| free of charge | hoarding | invoice |
| low-hanging fruit | nationality | overheads |
| pragmatic | quarter | report |
| shareholder | story | to inquire |
| deficit | dutiable | extend |
| gate | in full swing | know-how |
| market leader | objection | pay |
| privacy policy | Reach Out | return |
| skim | summary | trademark |
| whereas | airway bill | bank |
| branding | charge for | cookie |
| deliverable | duty-free | extranet |
| get down to business | inadequate packing | label |
| marketing | obliged | payable by you |
| process | real estate | reward sales |
| slogan | supplier | trading session |
| wholesale | advance (in advance) | audience rapport |
| blue-sky thinking | carriage free | compromise |
| data | divide | estate agent |
| franchise | hire | investment |
| lower | narrative | overhead projector |
| postpone | qualifications | reply |
| share premium | storey | to grant a discount |
| board of directors | cash | conference |
| deadline | domestic | exaggerated |
| freelance | hundred | issue |
| mailshot | negotiate | own |
| premium | quay | requirement |
| shipping | strength | to quote a price |
| vertical | address | asset |
| blank cheque | capitalisation issue | complain |
| force majeure | hereby | introductory price |
| loss | multitask | overdrawn |
| portfolio | purchasing department | repair |
| sever ties | stockholder | to be grateful |
| vacancy | account | arbitration |
| bill | byte | commission |
| creditor | director | end of play |
| flight | handout | instructions |
| liable | modem | organize |
| plead | prosecutor | reject |
| see eye to eye | standing order | terms of payment |
| unit price | advise | back to square one |
| bonus | casting vote | consequential loss |
| debtors | draft | exclusive rights |
| front page | Implement | Joint venture |
| management | no strings attached | paperback |
| prespect | raise | result |
| shorthand | subtract | to sign |
| visual aids | advertisement (ad) | authorization |
| boarding pass | cash dispenser | conference call |
| deal | donate | excerpt |
| Freemium | hype | item |
| main point | net price | pack |
| preparation | quick win | resign |
| shipping agent | strike | to refund |
| vice president | amount due | banknote |
| brisk trade | cheque | core competency |
| department store | edit | factor |
| gig economy | increase | lawsuit |
| matters arising | on the one hand | penalty |
| product line | reception | rock the boat |
| soft currency | sustainability | transaction |
| without prejudice | accept | approval (on approval) |
| big picture | buy-in | collaborate |
| credit | direct investment | enclosed |
| firm offer | guilty | install |
| liabilities | miscellaneous | organisation chart |
| platform | property | reimbursement |
| sector | stakeholders | tender |
| unemployment benefits | advice of payment | avoid |
| bond | cashier | consensus |
| debtor | downsizing | exchange rate |
| front cover | impact | join |
| manage | news website | paper |
| president | quote a price | responsibility |
| shorten | subtle | to ship |
| virus | alternative | bank transfer |
| brief | checkbook | core business |
| department | economies of scale | facilities |
| get worse | income statement | launch |
| maternity leave | on request | payment |
| product liability | receive | roadside signs |
| social media | support | training course |
| withdraw | added value | assessor |
| black market | capital stock | competitor |
| customer | disruptive | equipment |
| for sale | helicopter view | Intranet |
| Long shot | multiply | overdraf |
| policyholder | purchase | Renew |
| set up | stockbroker | title |
| build | claim | cost |
| derivative | education | feasible |
| go the extra mile | inevitable | leaflet |
| memory | operating system | perk |
| profit and loss account | recruitment | salary |
| soundbite | takeover | trial |
| apartment | bedrock price | building society |
| classified ads | count | description |
| e-marketing | features | going forward |
| inform | leasehold | merchandise |
| opinion | perseverance | profound |
| reduce | sales department | speculate |
| as mentioned | bind | candidate |
| comparison | current account | dispatch |
| environment | font | headline |
| Interrupt | loan | move the needle |
| outsourcing | pointer | public liability |
| remove | separate | stipulate |
| time’s up | uphill battle | actuary |
| assessment | bit | capital |
| competition | curriculum vitae (CV) | disruption |
| equal | for example… | headquarters |
| interview | logistics | multinational |
| overcome | policy | public relations |
| remuneration | service | stock |
| tip | upper hand | apply for a job |
| best practice | business angel | close |
| court of law | dictate | employ |
| Figure out | ground floor | inquiry |
| let | microphone | option |
| petty cash | promise | refuse |
| scalable | square | team-player |
| typeset | act | articulate |
| billion | cancel | company |
| currency | dismiss | entrepreneur |
| follow-up | hardware | interoperability |
| linear | motivate | outsource |
| point out | proxy vote | remote work |
| sensationalism | status report | ticket |
| up in the air | apply (e.g., a technique) | best regards |
| business plan | close a deal | cover |
| difference | employee | file |
| growth | Insider | letter of credit |
| million | order | ping |
| promote | registered | scale |
| square root | telecommuting | unanimous |
| affect | back up | borrow |
| censor | consider | decide |
| dress code | executive officer | fulfil |
| improve | journalist | manager |
| no-brainer | par value | prevent |
| Raise the bar | retail | show of hands |
| succeed | to start with… | vote |
| anecdote | barometer stock | browser |
| circulation | corporate synergy | deposit |
| editor | failure to pay | go into administration |
| induced | lead | media |
| online | perennial | production department |
| Recommend | sabotage | sold out |
| take on | transit passenger | work history |
| apology | behavior | bullish market |
| clause | counteroffer | desk |
| embodiment | fee | goods |
| information technology | legal tender | merchant bank |
| opinion leader | personnel | program |
| reduction | salutation | speculator |
| target | turnkey | after-sales service |
| baggage claim | box | chain store |
| consumer | declare | drop |
| expenses | fund | In a nutshell |
| jury | margin | non-fiction |
| participate | price point | range rate |
| retail price index (RPI) | signal | sue |
| touch base | warrant | agenda |
| balance | break | chairman |
| container | decrease | dubious |
| experience | furnished | in behalf of |
| keep one’s eye on the ball | mark up | not going to fly |
| partnership | prime time | reach |
| retailer | signature | suggest |
| traction | waybill | appoint |
| bid | buy | coin |
| cover letter | digital marketing | employer |
| fill in | guarantee | Insider dealing / trading |
| letterhead | minus | orderform |
| pivotal | promotion | registered letter |
| schedule | staff | telephone marketing |
| underestimate | according to | approve |
| bi-lingual | by the book | commercial |
| credit card | direct mail | encourage |
| fix | hand luggage | Instalment |
| liability | mistake | organise |
| plausible | proposal | reinsurance |
| security | stand one’s ground | terms |
| union | accounting (department) | arithmetic |
| bill of exchange | calculate | commitment |
| creditors | disadvantage | end user |
| flight attendant | hands are tied | insurance |
| lien | monetization | out in the open |
| plug | prospect | remind |
| see something through | startup | the elephant in the room |
| unit trusts | advertising agency | authorize |
| body | cash flow statement | confirm |
| debit | double-page spread | excess baggage |
| freight | ideate | jet lag |
| maintain | network | packaging |
| present | quota | respite |
| shoot something down | structure | to request |
| video conference |
