corporation

[ kawr-puh-rey-shuh n ]

/ ˌkɔr pəˈreɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR corporation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.See also municipal corporation, public corporation.

(initial capital letter) the group of principal officials of a borough or other municipal division in England.

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

Informal. a paunch; potbelly.

Nearby words

corporate raider, corporate restructuring, corporate venturing, corporate village, corporate welfare, corporation, corporation stop, corporation tax, corporatism, corporative, corporatize

Origin of corporation

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin corporātiōn- (stem of corporātiō) ‘guild’, Latin: ‘physical makeup, build’. See corporate, -ion

Related forms

cor·po·ra·tion·al, adjectivemul·ti·cor·po·ra·tion, nounnon·cor·po·ra·tion, nounsub·cor·po·ra·tion, noun

su·per·cor·po·ra·tion, noun

Usage note

See collective noun.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for corporation

Indeed, the Japanese-owned corporation has set a horrible precedent.
Kim Jong Un, Avert Your Eyes: Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Gets the Porn Parody Treatment|Aurora Snow|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A 1907 contract leases the plot of land to the Belgika corporation for five years, but it stayed for much longer.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The QC Group Inc A Minnesota-based corporation, owned by Daniel Medford and David DeVowe, which provides quality control services.
The 26 Next Hobby Lobbys|Abby Haglage|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cult of corporatism allows us to reimagine the corporation as our ultimate access point to the infinitude of possibility.
All Hail Shingy, AOL’s Goblin King|James Poulos|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Nobody doubts his manipulative skills or his single-minded agenda to advance the interests of the corporation he created.
Murdoch on the Rocks: How a Lone Reporter Revealed the Mogul's Tabloid Terror Machine|Clive Irving|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All relate to Corporation accounts and to the financial affairs of the borough.
In the Mayor's Parlour|J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher
The private property of stockholders shall be exempt from any and all debts of this Corporation.
The Harris-Ingram Experiment|Charles E. Bolton
Harvey, were presented with colours by the Mayor and Corporation.
Norfolk Annals|Charles Mackie
Its profits cannot be divided until the managing agents of the corporation so decree.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 3|Various
Therefore, he was not what is commonly called a corporation lawyer.
Cupid's Middleman|Edward B. Lent

British Dictionary definitions for corporation

corporation

/ (ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃən) /

noun

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

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

a group of people acting as one body

See public corporation

informal a large paunch or belly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for corporation

corporation

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.