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Synonyms

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.

holder British  
/ ˈhəʊldə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that holds

    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

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Charlotte's dad, Shane, a Port Vale season ticket holder, ran the pub up until he passed away in 2022.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

"I don't know if I would be a season ticket holder, but I'm killing a Saturday afternoon," Richard Kurland, a spectators at the match, told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The result has now been officially recognized by Guinness, with the new QR code measuring just 37% the size of the previous record holder.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

An account holder who decides to, say, blow it on a trip to Cancún could owe $406 in federal income taxes and a $338 penalty on the withdrawal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Dr. Carroll put the filled test tubes in a holder, then turned to the last vial.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

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.