Business Strategy Vocabulary

verb A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. In this case, 'based' is a verb that shows the action of establishing something on a particular foundation or principle.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'based' is an adjective that describes the noun it is modifying.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. 'On' is a preposition that indicates the relationship between the base and something else.

• The decision was made based on thorough research and analysis.
• I chose this restaurant based on the reviews online.
• I'm going to pick my outfit based on my mood today.
• His success is based on years of hard work and dedication.

noun a person's initial action or decision in a particular situation

verb to make the initial action or decision in a particular situation

• It is important to carefully consider your first move in a game of chess.
• Make sure you think about your first move before you make it in chess.
• Don't mess up your first move in chess, dude.
• The company's first move in the market was a bold one, setting the tone for their success.

• In order to achieve success, it is important to maintain a strong focus on your goals.
• Hey, can you focus and stop getting distracted by your phone?
• Dude, you need to get your focus straight if you want to pass this exam.
• The artist's focus on detail in his paintings is what sets him apart from others.

noun not applicable

verb not applicable

adjective able to be foreseen or predicted

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The company's financial projections are based on foreseeable market trends.
• I can't predict the future, but I think it's pretty foreseeable that prices will go up.
• It was totally foreseeable that she would bail on us at the last minute.
• In the grand scheme of things, the consequences of our actions were foreseeable from the start.

verb to create or develop a plan, system, or strategy

• The research team will formulate a hypothesis to test their theory.
• Let's sit down and formulate a plan before we start working on the project.
• I need to come up with a way to formulate my excuse for being late.
• She was able to formulate a solution to the problem by thinking outside the box.

noun a satisfactory compromise between two extremes

adjective being at a satisfactory level or state

• It is important to find a happy medium between work and personal life.
• I try to find a happy medium between saving money and treating myself.
• I like to find the sweet spot, the happy medium, you know what I mean?
• In relationships, it's all about finding the happy medium between giving space and being present.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• I always make sure to have the necessary documents in hand before attending the meeting.
• Don't worry, I have the tickets in hand for the concert tonight.
• I've got the cash in hand to buy those sneakers I've been eyeing.
• She always has a plan in hand for any unexpected situation.

noun a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money

• The central bank is closely monitoring the inflation rate to ensure economic stability.
• I heard prices are going up because of inflation.
• Inflation is killing my wallet, everything is so expensive now.
• Inflation in the housing market is like a balloon slowly expanding, ready to burst at any moment.

noun a person who plots or schemes, especially in a devious way

• The machinator behind the scheme was finally brought to justice.
• I heard that the machinator got caught red-handed.
• The machinator thought they could pull a fast one, but they got caught.
• The political machinator carefully orchestrated the downfall of his rival.

adverb in a way that is full of meaning or significance

• The research findings were meaningfully presented in the academic paper.
• She always listens meaningfully when you talk to her.
• Let's chat meaningfully about our future plans.
• His artwork speaks meaningfully to the struggles of the human experience.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to indicate grammatical definiteness of a noun

• In a business context, profit is often seen as a means to an end.
• For some people, working a job is just a means to an end.
• Getting good grades in school is just a means to an end for me.
• To him, money was just a means to an end, not the ultimate goal.

verb To plan and direct the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation.

• It is essential to have a clear map in order to navigate through the complex network of roads in the city.
• I always use Google Maps to navigate my way around town.
• I have no idea how to navigate this new video game level, it's so confusing!
• With her wisdom and experience, she was able to navigate through the challenges of life with grace.

verb to turn on or as if on a pivot; to change direction or course abruptly

• The company is pivoting its business model to focus more on e-commerce.
• We're pivoting our strategy to target a different demographic.
• I heard they're pivoting to a whole new product line.
• Sometimes in life, you have to be open to pivoting your plans when unexpected opportunities arise.

noun the quality of being able to be put into practice or used effectively; usefulness

adjective practical

• The design of the new building prioritizes practicality over aesthetics.
• I always choose clothes based on practicality rather than style.
• Who needs fancy gadgets when you can just go for practicality?
• In the realm of emotions, practicality often takes a backseat to passion.

noun an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances

adjective preceding in time, order, or importance

• The judge referred to a legal precedent in making her decision.
• There's no precedent for this kind of situation, so we'll have to figure it out as we go.
• I don't want to set a bad precedent by skipping class.
• Her success set a precedent for others to follow in her footsteps.

verb to think about again, especially in order to change a decision or opinion

• I urge you to reconsider your decision before finalizing the contract.
• Hey, maybe you should reconsider going out with him.
• Dude, you seriously need to reconsider your priorities.
• Sometimes it's good to reconsider the path you're on and make a change for the better.

verb to reduce or diminish expenses or costs

• The company had to retrench some of its employees due to financial difficulties.
• I heard they're going to retrench a few people from the team.
• Looks like they're going to start retrenching staff to cut costs.
• Sometimes we have to retrench in our personal lives to focus on what truly matters.

noun a wrestling move where one opponent brings the other to the ground

verb to physically lower something from a higher position

• The police were able to take down the suspect without any injuries.
• I watched the game last night and saw the quarterback take down the opposing team's defense.
• I can't believe she was able to take down that huge burger in just a few minutes!
• She knew she had to take down her opponent in the debate in order to win over the audience.

adjective describing something that cannot be put into practice or cannot be made to work

• The proposed solution was deemed unworkable by the committee.
• Trying to fix it that way is just unworkable.
• That plan is totally unworkable, dude.
• Her expectations were so high that they were practically unworkable.

adjective able to be successfully completed or put into practice; feasible

• The committee is currently discussing a workable solution to the budget deficit.
• Let's try to come up with a workable plan for our project.
• We need to figure out a workable way to get this done.
• Finding a workable balance between work and personal life can be challenging.

verb to assess or evaluate again; to reconsider or review

• It is important to reassess the current situation before making any decisions.
• Let's take a step back and reassess what we're doing.
• We need to rethink this whole thing and reassess our approach.
• Sometimes we need to reassess our priorities in life to find true happiness.

noun a person who drives long distances, especially as a profession

• The long hauler was a truck driver who transported goods across the country.
• My uncle is a long hauler, he drives a big rig from coast to coast.
• Being a long hauler means spending hours on the road without much rest.
• In life, we must be prepared to be a long hauler and persist through challenges for long-term success.

noun a game that involves thinking ahead and considering multiple variables or possibilities

• The concept of four-dimensional chess is often used in theoretical physics to explain complex systems.
• Trying to understand quantum mechanics is like playing four-dimensional chess - it's confusing and mind-boggling.
• Dealing with my boss's ever-changing demands is like playing four-dimensional chess with no rules.
• In politics, it sometimes feels like the leaders are playing a game of four-dimensional chess while the rest of us are stuck in two dimensions.

noun a course of action; maneuver; strategy

• The diplomat presented a formal démarche to the foreign government regarding the trade agreement.
• She made a démarche to her boss to request a raise.
• I'm planning a démarche with my friends to convince them to go on a road trip.
• His decision to quit his job was a bold démarche towards a new beginning.

noun a person who benefits from something without paying for it

• The free rider problem occurs when individuals benefit from a public good without contributing to its costs.
• Don't be a free rider and make sure to pitch in for the group project.
• Stop being a free rider and start pulling your weight.
• In life, being a free rider will only get you so far before people catch on to your actions.

noun a belief in or reliance on the idea that solutions to problems can be found primarily through the application of technology and innovation

• Solutionism is a term used to describe the belief that every problem has a solution.
• Some people think solutionism is the answer to all of our problems.
• I'm not buying into that solutionism nonsense.
• Applying solutionism to complex societal issues oversimplifies the root causes.

noun can - a slang term for a metal container, often used in phrases like 'kick the can down the road'

verb kick - to strike or propel forcibly with the foot

preposition down - in or to a lower place or position

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite

• The government's decision to delay addressing the issue only serves to kick the can down the road.
• Let's not just kick the can down the road, we need to deal with this problem now.
• Stop avoiding the problem and kicking the can down the road!
• By continuously procrastinating, you're just kicking the can down the road and making the situation worse.

adjective less than optimal; not as good as it could be

• The current system design is sub-optimal and may need to be revised for better efficiency.
• The way we're doing it now is sub-optimal, we should probably find a better way.
• This setup is totally sub-optimal, we need to fix it ASAP.
• Living with a sub-optimal mindset will only hold you back from reaching your full potential.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate time, manner, degree, or frequency

preposition shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The project was completed according to plan, meeting all deadlines and requirements.
• The party went off without a hitch, everything went according to plan.
• We totally nailed it, everything happened just like we planned.
• Life doesn't always go according to plan, sometimes we have to adapt and make changes.

verb to make something more active or lively

• The company decided to actify their marketing strategy to attract more customers.
• I think we should actify our study group sessions to improve our grades.
• Let's actify this party by inviting more people and getting better music.
• She knew she had to actify her mindset in order to achieve her goals.

noun advantage position - a favorable or superior location or situation

adjective position - relating to the place where someone or something is located

• The company's strong financial position gave them an advantage in the market.
• Having the boss on your side puts you in an advantage position at work.
• If you know the right people, you can get yourself into an advantage position in this industry.
• Being well-prepared for the interview put Sarah in an advantage position compared to the other candidates.