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Synonyms

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 (distinguished from parent company).

holding company British  

noun

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

"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
holding company Cultural  

  1. A company that controls other companies.

Etymology

Origin of holding company

First recorded in 1905–10

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.

Two sons of Walmart founder Sam Walton—Jim Walton, co-manager of the family office and holding company Walton Enterprises, and Rob Walton, former Walmart chairman, are now among the elite top 10 of the Bloomberg index.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 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

Exor shares fell after the holding company of Italy’s Agnelli family suffered from poor performances at some of its largest listed companies, including Stellantis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Its intermediate holding company HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is also downgraded to neutral from buy, with its target price cut by 33% to 410,000 won.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

In fact, Duke’s interest in his giant holding company waned soon after its creation.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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.