Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

preference shares

British  

plural noun

  1. US and Canadian name: preferred stock.  shares representing part of the capital issued by a company and entitling their holders to priority with respect to both net profit and net assets. Preference shares usually carry a definite rate of dividend that is generally lower than that declared on ordinary shares Compare ordinary shares preferred ordinary shares

"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

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.

See Examples For:

It was given "preference shares", which meant it would get its money back first in the event of a sale.

From BBC Mar. 4, 2026

But unlike the Equity for Punks' "ordinary" shareholders, TSG was given "preference shares".

From BBC Feb. 27, 2026

In 2017 a US equity firm TSG Consumer Partners acquired a 22% stake in Brewdog, but unlike the Equity for Punks' "ordinary" shareholders, TSG was given "preference shares".

From BBC Feb. 17, 2026

“The board will now consider its next steps and will continue to engage with our shareholders,” Chairman Marijn Dekkers said, adding Unilever will proceed with the plan to cancel its Dutch preference shares.

From Reuters Oct. 5, 2018

Its six per cent, preference shares have moved between fourteen and five and a half.

From New Worlds For Old A Plain Account of Modern Socialism by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training