corporation

[kawr-puh-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. an association of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members.

2. Corporation, the group of principal officials of a borough or other municipal division in England.

3. any group of persons united or regarded as united in one body.

4. Informal.,  a paunch; potbelly.

corporation

/ ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. a group of people authorized by law to act as a legal personality and having its own powers, duties, and liabilities

2. Also called: municipal corporation. the municipal authorities of a city or town

3. a group of people acting as one body

4. See public corporation

5. informal,  a large paunch or belly

corporation

1. A business organization owned by a group of stockholders, each of whom enjoys limited liability (that is, each can be held responsible for losses only up to the limit of his or her investment). A corporation has the ability to raise capital by selling stock to the public.

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Word Forms

• corporational adjective
• multicorporation noun
• noncorporation noun
• subcorporation noun
• supercorporation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of corporation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin corporātiōn- (stem of corporātiō ) “guild,” Latin: “physical makeup, build”; corporate, -ion

Example Sentences

BBC sources denied a report in the Telegraph that the corporation's director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, viewed the event as "elitist", adding that the decision had been purely based on the return on investment.

From BBC

The study also will seek recommendations on how to hold “electrical corporations accountable for improving safety and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires.”

From Los Angeles Times

“What I did not predict was the capitulation of universities, law firms, media corporations be they television or newspapers. I did not predict that.”

From Los Angeles Times

They explained that if I gave them my login details and security code then they would hack the BBC and then extort the corporation for a ransom in bitcoin.

From BBC

The taskforce has recommended new towns are delivered by development corporations, which could have special planning powers to compulsory purchase land, invest in local services, and grant planning permission.

From BBC

Related Words

• business 
• company 
• enterprise