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noun Uncommon

shareholder

SHEH-uh-hohl-duh
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Shareholder (noun) means a person or organisation that owns shares in a company. Example: “The shareholders voted to approve the merger at the annual meeting.”

noun
1
A person or organisation that owns shares in a company.
"As of March 2022, the Qatar Holding LLC, the investment arm of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) was the single largest shareholder of QIB, owning 16.7% of the bank, while Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of PSG, is a board member at QIA." — Issy Ronald, Manchester United is for sale, who could buy the world-famous club? (2023)
"Shareholders are the real owners of a publicly traded business, but management runs it."
"The shareholders voted to approve the merger at the annual meeting."
"My aunt is a shareholder in the bakery where she once worked."
"Each shareholder receives a letter explaining how the company did this year."

How to use shareholder

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who owns part of a company through stock.

Common pairings
majority shareholder shareholder meeting shareholder value
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Word forms

Plural
shareholders
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ voted to approve the merger at the annual meeting.

Etymology

A compound of share and holder — literally "one who holds shares."

stockholder investor equity holder shareowner

Related words

Rhymes for shareholder

See all rhymes for shareholder →

Frequently asked questions

What does “shareholder” mean?
The word “shareholder” means a person or organisation that owns shares in a company. In plain terms, someone who owns part of a company through stock.
How do you pronounce “shareholder”?
“Shareholder” is pronounced SHEH-uh-hohl-duh (/ˈʃɛɹˌhoʊl.dɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shareholder” in a sentence?
Here is “shareholder” used in a sentence: “The shareholders voted to approve the merger at the annual meeting.”
What part of speech is “shareholder”?
“Shareholder” is a noun.
Is “shareholder” a common word?
“Shareholder” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a shareholder and a stakeholder?
A shareholder is a person or organisation that owns shares in a company, giving them a direct financial and ownership stake. A stakeholder is a broader term covering anyone affected by or interested in a company, including employees and customers, who may not own any shares.
Is a shareholder the same as an owner of a company?
A shareholder is a partial owner of a company, with ownership proportional to the number of shares they hold. Larger shareholders have greater influence and financial stake than smaller ones, but no individual shareholder necessarily owns the whole company.
Do shareholders have voting rights in a company?
Shareholders often have voting rights tied to the shares they own, allowing them to vote on major company decisions such as electing the board. The exact rights depend on the class of shares and the company's rules.

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