holder
Americannoun
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something that holds or secures.
a pencil holder.
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a person who has the ownership, possession, or use of something; owner; tenant.
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Law. a person who has the legal right to enforce a negotiable instrument.
noun
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a person or thing that holds
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a person, such as an owner, who has possession or control of something
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( in combination )
householder
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law a person who has possession of a bill of exchange, cheque, or promissory note that he is legally entitled to enforce
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of holder
First recorded in 1300–50, holder is from the Middle English word haldere. See hold 1, -er 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The current record holder is Saudi Aramco, which ultimately raised $29.4 billion in its 2019 IPO after exercising a “green shoe” option.
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
What seems like a mundane to-do item while the account holder is alive later becomes a major headache for would-be heirs.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
When renewals come up, the license holder must demonstrate that the station is serving the public interest by providing local news, program diversity and educational and informational shows for children.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Taking its cue from the NFL, NBA and Formula 1, Duncanson believes the Premier League will increasingly evolve into a rights holder and broadcast platform.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
I stuffed the remaining napkins back into the holder and then stood up to face mustachioed Stan, who was watching this unfold with unadulterated glee beaming off his annoying, dictatorial face.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.