corporation
kaw-puh-RAY-shuhn
Corporation (noun) means a company or organization recognized by law as a single legal entity, separate from its owners. Example: “The corporation reported record profits this quarter.”
noun
1
A company or organization recognized by law as a single legal entity, separate from its owners.
"The corporation reported record profits this quarter."
"She founded a corporation to protect her personal assets."
"Because the corporation is a separate legal entity, it can sign contracts in its own name."
2
The governing body of a town or city.
"The corporation approved funding for the new library."
"The corporation voted to repair the market square and widen the high street."
"Residents wrote to the corporation to complain about the rubbish collections."
How to use corporation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA business (or sometimes a town council) that the law treats as its own legal person, separate from the people who run it.
Common pairings
multinational corporation
incorporate a corporation
corporation tax
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Word forms
- Plural
- corporations
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The _____ reported record profits this quarter.
Etymology
From Latin corporatio, "the forming of a body," from corporare, "to form into a body" — from corpus, "body".
Synonyms
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company
firm
business
enterprise
conglomerate
incorporated business
pot
corp
tummy
potbelly
bay window
Related words
Rhymes for corporation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for corporation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “corporation” mean?
The word “corporation” means a company or organization recognized by law as a single legal entity, separate from its owners. In plain terms, a business (or sometimes a town council) that the law treats as its own legal person, separate from the people who run it.
How do you pronounce “corporation”?
“Corporation” is pronounced kaw-puh-RAY-shuhn (/ˌkɔɹ.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “corporation” in a sentence?
Here is “corporation” used in a sentence: “The corporation reported record profits this quarter.”
What part of speech is “corporation”?
“Corporation” is a noun.
Where does the word “corporation” come from?
The word “corporation” comes from Latin. From Latin corporatio, "the forming of a body," from corporare, "to form into a body" — from corpus, "body".
Is “corporation” a common word?
“Corporation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “corporation” have?
“Corporation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a company or organization recognized by law as a single legal entity, separate from its owners.
What is the difference between a corporation and a company?
'Company' is a general word for any business, large or small. A corporation is a specific legal form: a business registered as its own legal entity, separate from the people who own it. Every corporation is a company, but not every company is a corporation, since many are sole traders or partnerships.
What are the main types of corporations?
Corporations come in several forms. Public corporations sell shares on a stock exchange, while private ones are held by a small group. There are also non-profit corporations, which reinvest earnings into their mission, and multinational corporations, which operate across several countries. Tax categories like C and S corporations exist in the US.
Why do businesses become corporations?
The main reason is limited liability: because the corporation is a separate legal entity, owners are not personally responsible for its debts. Incorporating also makes it easier to raise money by selling shares, lends the business credibility, and lets it continue even if owners leave or die.
What does it mean that a corporation is a legal entity?
It means the law treats the corporation as a 'person' in its own right, separate from its owners. It can own property, sign contracts, borrow money, sue, and be sued under its own name. This separation is what protects shareholders' personal assets from the company's debts.
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