holding company

American  

noun

Finance.

1. a company that controls other companies through stock ownership but that usually does not engage directly in their productive operations (parent company ).

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holding company British  

noun

1. a company with controlling shareholdings in one or more other companies

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holding company Cultural  

1. A company that controls other companies.

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Etymology

Origin of holding company

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Yangzijiang plans to acquire a 10% interest in Poseidon, the holding company of Seaspan, one of the world’s largest containership lessors, the analyst notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

NS Group is the holding company for Nihon Safety, which is a leader in the rent-guarantee industry by size and profitability, the analyst says in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

James was Burden’s colleague, a senior associate who at the time was handling, with Burden’s help, the IPO for an internet holding company.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The Bank of America, whose global headquarters are in North Carolina, is a multinational investment bank and financial services holding company.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

There, Duke announced his stunning plan: the men would weld their five companies into a single mammoth holding company.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• conglomerate
• consortium
• corporation
• gang
• mob
• monopoly
• ring
• syndicate