parent company

American  

noun

1. a corporation or other business enterprise that owns controlling interests in one or more subsidiary companies (distinguished from holding company).

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parent company British  

noun

1. a company that owns more than half the shares of another company

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Etymology

Origin of parent company

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

A few such groups include the plaintiffs in two tandem lawsuits against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp, whose jury trials concluded in favor of the plaintiffs March 24 and 25.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2026

Kering, the parent company of Gucci, noted that the broader consideration going forward relates to potential impacts on global tourism trends and the macroeconomic backdrop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

According to the Marine Traffic website and parent company Kpler, some 426 oil tankers, 34 cooking-gas carriers and 19 ships carrying liquified natural gas are waiting to transit the strait.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Analysts at Dragonfly, a risk analysis and security intelligence service owned by Barron’s parent company, Dow Jones, say there are several additional signals that could point to trouble for the cease-fire.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

My team and I persuaded Darden Restaurants, the parent company behind chains like Olive Garden and Red Lobster, to make changes to the kinds of food it offered and how it was prepared.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama