private company

American  

noun

British.

1. a company whose shareholders may not exceed 50 in number and whose shares may not be offered for public subscription.

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private company British  

noun

1. a limited company that does not issue shares for public subscription and whose owners do not enjoy an unrestricted right to transfer their shareholdings Compare public company

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Etymology

Origin of private company

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

An IPO is when a private company sells shares to the public for the first time.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026

When a private company plans to list on a public market, the S-1 is the initial filing the company submits to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

"We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company," the company said in a statement.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

If the board accepts the offer, MGM would become a private company controlled by People Inc.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Moody’s, once a private company, had gone public in 2000.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis