1. A business organization owned by private individuals or groups rather than by the state or public, with shares not traded on public stock exchanges
The startup was a private company before its IPO.
A startup era uma empresa privada antes de sua abertura de capital.
2. A corporation whose ownership is restricted and not available to the general public
Most family businesses operate as private companies.
A maioria dos negócios familiares funciona como empresas privadas.