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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.

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

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Strategy Inc., the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, may be grappling with the same question.

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

Steve eventually became a season ticket holder and says he did not miss a match for 47 years.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

He pulls paper napkins from the metal holder to wipe up the spill.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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.