shareholder
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shareholder
Explanation
A shareholder is someone who holds stock in a company. Shareholders partially own a company and can make more money when it does well. When you share, you're using or enjoying something with others. Similarly, shareholders own shares — also known as stocks — in a company, so the shareholders all own a little piece of the company. Therefore, shareholders want the company to succeed, so their shares will be worth more money. If one shareholder owns more than 50% of the shares, that person can control the company. Otherwise, the shareholders will have to work together to make decisions.
Vocabulary lists containing shareholder
Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - High School
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Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - Middle School
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The Industrial Revolution - Middle School and High School
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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.
Exxon has said it isn’t adopting any elective provisions of the Texas corporate statute that weaken shareholder rights.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
However, William Blair analyst Sebastien Naji argues the dividend move will make Nvidia eligible for ownership by income-oriented funds, and its strong cash flow allows it to both invest and step up shareholder returns.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
SpaceX acknowledged the arrangement poses risks for outside investors, noting that Musk "will have the power to control the outcome of matters requiring shareholder approval, including election of all our directors."
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
Companies with excess cash can do things like hoard it, dole much of it out through shareholder returns, make acquisitions or invest in the business through areas like research and development.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
He became Avant!’s single largest shareholder; he pressed management for changes.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
