Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

business

Defined in 6 dictionaries — Case Law, U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Anderson (1889)

Definitions from Case Law

From 242 U.S. 503 - Von Baumbach v. Sargent Land Co. · 1917Most cited · 631 citing opinions

This court adopted with approval the definition, judicially approved in other cases, which included within the comprehensive term 'business' 'that which occupies the time, attention, and labor of men for the purpose of a livelihood or profit.

Show all 2 Supreme Court definitions and how they changed over time 1917–1929

United States Code

18 U.S.C. § 3505 — as used in this section

“business” includes business, institution, association, profession, occupation, and calling of every kind, whether or not conducted for profit.

42 U.S.C. § 4601 — as used in this chapter (2 versions over time)

The term “business” means any lawful activity, excepting a farm operation, conducted primarily—

(A) for the purchase, sale, lease and rental of personal and real property, and for the manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, or any other personal property;

(B) for the sale of services to the public;

(C) by a nonprofit organization; or

(D) solely for the purposes of section 4622 of this title, for assisting in the purchase, sale, resale, manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, personal property, or services by the erection and maintenance of an outdoor advertising display or displays, whether or not such display or displays are located on the premises on which any of the above activities are conducted.

42 U.S.C. § 503 — in this section

the term “business” means a trade or business (or a part thereof);

Show all 3 definitions and how they changed over time

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

Occupation or employment. 178 111. App. 176. The employment which occupies the time, attention and labor. 37 111. App. 503.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

That which occupies the time, attention, and labor of men for the purpose of livelihood or profit, but it is not necessary that it should be the sole occupation or employment. It embraces everything about which a person can be employed; Flint v. Stone Tracy Co., 220 U. S. 107, 31 Sup. Ct. 342, 55 L. Ed. 389, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 1312. The doing of a single act pertaining to a particular business will not be considered engaging in or carrying on the business, yet a series of such acts would be so considered. Lemons v. State, 50 Ala. 130; People v. Com'rs of Taxes of City of New York, 23 N. Y. 244. It is a word of large and indefinite import; the legislature could not well have used a larger word. Jessel, M. R., in 15 Ch. D. 258. See Place of Business; Domicil.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

This word embraces everything about which a person can be employed. People v. Com'rs of Taxes, 23 N. Y. 242, 244. That which occupies the time, attention, and labor of men for the purpose of a livelihood or profit. The doing of a single act pertaining to a particular business will not be considered engaging in or carrying on the business ; yet a series of such acts would be so considered. Goddard v. Chaffee, 2 Allen (Mass.) 395, 79 Am. Dec. 796; Sterne v. State, 20 Ala. 46. Labor, business, and work are not synonyms. Labor may be business, but it is not necessarily so ; and business is not always labor. Making an agreement for the sale of a chattel is not within a prohibition of labor upon Sunday, though it is (if by a merchant in his calling within a prohibition upon business. Bloom v. Richards, 2 Ohio St. 387.

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

A word of large signification, denoting the employment or occupation in which a person is engaged to procure a living. 8 "Business" and "employment" are synonymous terms, signifying that which occupies the time, attention, and labor of men for purposes of a livelihood or for profit. A calling for the purpose of a livelihood.' See Employment; Happiness. " Labor " may be business, but it is not necessarily so; and " business " is not always labor. The making of a contract is business, but not laboV. ^ See Labor. 1; Trade. " Other business," in the expression "works, mines, manufactory, or other business," is ejusdem generis with the species of business described by the preceding words, and imports, in a Wages Act, business of the same general character." " Ten per cent, on the business " of a partnership may mean ten per centum of the result of the business, that is, of the profits.'" Business corporation. In the Bankruptcy Act of 1867, had a broader meaning than " trading " corporation; was held to include a railroad corporation, 'i and an insurance company 12 ' See 40 Ala. 669; 46 Cal. 366; 110 Mass. 403. 2 4 Bl. Com. 370. ' 4 Bl. Com'. 804, 376, 407. < 4 Bl. Com. 222. » 4 Bl. Com. 377. See 1 Steph. Hist. Cr. Law Eng. 476-77. » Goddard v. Chaffee, 2 AUen, 396 (1861), Merrick, J. ' [Moore v. State, 16 Ala. 413 (1849); 68 id. SI; 71 id. 62; 28 N. J. L. 546; 83 N. Y. 844. 8 [Bloom V. Eichards, 2 Ohio St. 396-403 (1853), oases. » Pardee's Appeal, 100 Pa. 412 (1882). i» Funck V. Haskell, 133 Mass. 582 (1882). >' Adams v. Boston, &c. E. Co., 1 Holmes, 30 (1870); While "business " in § 37 of that act had a broader meaning than the word "commercial," used in the same section, such scope was not given it as to supersede " commercial " and " moneyed," or to leave these words without practical signification.' Business hours. The business hours of the community generally.^ The hours when business is ordinarily transacted, down to the beginning of the hours of rest in the evening, except as to paper payable at a bank or by a banker. ^ Business paper. Commercial paper; negotiable instruments. See Negotiable. Business usages. See Custom; Usage. Course of business. An act done according to the rules or methods which prevail in business generally or in a particular line or branch of business is said to be done in the "due," "ordinary,'' "regular," or "usual" course of business. One who talces commercial paper before its maturity, and without notice, actual or otherwise, of any defense thereto, receives the paper in the due course of business and becomes a holder for value.^ Under the Banlrruptcy Acts sales not made in the usual and ordinary course of the business of the debtor were prima facie evidence of fraud on creditors; as, where a retail dealer disposed of his stock at wholesale. ^ Place of business. Tiie place where one habitually or chiefly transacts his business duties is his usual or principal place of business. " Usual place of business " means the place where one^s business is carried on openly; the place which has public notoriety as one's usual place of business.' The "priiicipal place of business "is no test of residence, either of a natural person or of a corporation.' ' See Bank, 2 (3); Carrt on; Commerce; Custom; Income; Labor, 1; License, 3; Merchant; Profit, 1; Reside; Sunday; Tax, 3; Trade.