holder

American  

[hohl-der] / ˈhoʊl dər /

noun

1. something that holds hold or secures.

   a pencil holder.

2. a person who has the ownership, possession, or use of something; owner; tenant.

3. Law. a person who has the legal right to enforce a negotiable instrument.

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holder British  

/ ˈhəʊldə /

noun

1. a person or thing that holds

2. 1. a person, such as an owner, who has possession or control of something

   2. ( in combination )

      householder

3. law a person who has possession of a bill of exchange, cheque, or promissory note that he is legally entitled to enforce

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Other Word Forms

• holdership noun
• preholder noun

Etymology

Origin of holder

First recorded in 1300–50, holder is from the Middle English word haldere. See hold ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Strategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, paused a 13-week buying spree in March but signaled a potential return to purchases.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Soleimani Afshar became a green card holder in 2021 under the Biden administration, Bis said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

The Isle of Man Immigration Service acknowledged the recent case in China where a Manx passport holder was denied entry.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The gamma-ray emission continued for at least seven hours, nearly doubling the duration of the previous record holder.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

I nod, and she sorts through the slides to find the right image and position it in the slide holder.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• buyer
• landowner
• partner
• purchaser