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silent partner

See more synonyms for silent partner on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a partner taking no active part in the conduct of a business.
Compare secret partner.

Origin of silent partner

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for silent partner

silent partner

noun
  1. US and Canadian a partner in a business who does not play an active role, esp one who supplies capitalAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): sleeping partner
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