common stock

American  

noun

1. stock that ordinarily has no preference in the matter of dividends or assets and represents the residual ownership of a corporate business.

2. Animal Husbandry. stock that is not purebred.

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common stock British  

noun

1. the US name for ordinary shares

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Etymology

Origin of common stock

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Under terms of the agreement, Globalstar shareholders could either receive $90 in cash for each share of common stock they own or trade their shares in for a slice of Amazon stock.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Lucid also said on Tuesday that it would raise $300 million through a public offering of common stock and another $750 million in increased investments from partners.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Leggett & Platt shareholders will receive 0.1455 shares of Somnigroup common stock in exchange for each share of Leggett & Platt common stock they own.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Beretta, which already owns about 9.95% of Sturm Ruger’s RGR 5.61%increase; green up pointing triangle outstanding common stock, asked the board to exempt the transaction from Ruger’s shareholder-rights plan, or poison pill, adopted last fall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The remuneration for capital is to be such as is found sufficient to induce savings from individual consumption, in order to increase the common stock to such point as is desired.

From Socialism by Mill, John Stuart

Related Words

• common shares
• ordinary shares