Shareholder Definition, Usage & Key Roles

Meaning 1：company owner (shareholder)

shareholder 🔊

/ˈʃeəˌhəʊldə(r)/

A person who owns a part of a company. It's like owning a piece of a pizza.

Shareholder meaning illustrated: person analyzing stock charts and a share certificate at a desk.

company owner 🔊

➕

/ˈkʌmp(ə)ni ˈəʊnə(r)/

A person who owns one or more shares (units of ownership) in a corporation, entitling them to a portion of its assets and earnings.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of ‘share’ (a portion) + ‘holder’ (one who holds).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of someone who HOLDS a SHARE of a company, like holding a slice of pizza.

📖 Example

As a shareholder of a green energy company, she was happy to see the annual report show strong profits and environmental benefits. 🔊 She felt pleased as a green energy company shareholder seeing the profitable and eco-friendly annual report.

🔗 Collocations

majority shareholder – an individual or entity that owns more than 50% of a company's shares

shareholder meeting – a formal gathering where company management presents information to shareholders

shareholder rights – the legal privileges granted to shareholders, such as voting and dividend rights

🔄 Synonyms

stockholder (n.) – Essentially the same as shareholder, emphasizing ownership of stock.

investor (n.) – A broader term for someone who commits money to gain a financial return, which includes shareholders.

stakeholder (n.) – In a business context, anyone with an interest in the company's success, which can include shareholders, employees, and customers.

🚫 Antonyms

non-shareholder (n.) – A person who does not own any shares in a particular company.

employee (n.) – A worker hired by the company, contrasting with an owner.

creditor (n.) – A person or entity to whom money is owed, as opposed to an owner.

🌱 Derivatives

shareholding (n.) – The shares in a company held by an individual or group.

📖 Cultural Story

Based on real etymology: a modern compound from 'share' (a portion) and 'holder'. It reflects the rise of joint-stock companies. Shareholders are key figures in corporate governance, voting on major decisions.