takeover

The word “takeover” means the act of one company buying and gaining control of another. In plain terms, one side gaining control of something — a business, a building, a government — that was previously run by someone else.

Here is “takeover” used in a sentence: “The takeover was finalized after months of negotiation.”

“Takeover” is a noun.

“Takeover” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Takeover” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of one company buying and gaining control of another.

A takeover happens when one company buys and gains control of another, often without the target company's full agreement, while a merger is a mutual combination of two companies into one new entity. Takeovers can be friendly or hostile, whereas mergers are generally negotiated jointly from the start.

A hostile takeover is when one company acquires control of another against the wishes of the target company's management or board. It remains a takeover in the broader sense of one party gaining control, but without the target's cooperation.

Yes, takeover can describe any transfer of control or authority from one party to another, not just corporate acquisitions. For example, it can refer to a military takeover of a government or a hostile takeover of a project or organization.