silent partner

American

noun

a partner taking no active part in the conduct of a business.

silent partner British

noun

Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): sleeping partner. a partner in a business who does not play an active role, esp one who supplies capital

"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

Etymology

Origin of silent partner

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

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.

Much that is worth reading has been written about consciousness and its silent partner, the unconscious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

It is the silent partner in every coal operation, and China’s operations are enormous.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

July 30, 2025A previous version of this article described Kay Elyse as a silent partner.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025

His defence was immaculate as he played the silent partner.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025

The Catholic layman, long a silent partner in the Church's apostolate, has assumed a more active part in recent years.

From Moral Theology A Complete Course Based on St. Thomas Aquinas and the Best Modern Authorities by Callan, Charles Jerome

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023