biz
UK: bɪz | US: bɪz
n. informal abbreviation of "business"
n. slang term for the entertainment industry (e.g., "show biz")
"Biz" is a clipped form of "business," originating in early 20th-century American slang. The truncation reflects informal speech patterns, where longer words are shortened for efficiency or stylistic effect. The spelling "biz" phonetically captures the essential sound of the first syllable of "business" while dropping the latter part. Over time, it became particularly associated with the entertainment industry ("show biz"), emphasizing its colloquial and niche usage.
He’s been in the biz for over 20 years.
She knows all the ins and outs of the music biz.
"Show biz" isn’t as glamorous as it seems.
They started a small biz selling handmade crafts.
The tech biz is booming these days.