stock exchange

American  

noun

1. a building or place where stocks and other securities are bought and sold.

2. an association of brokers and dealers in stocks and bonds who meet together and transact business according to fixed rules.

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stock exchange British  

noun

1. Also called: stock market. 

   1. a highly organized market facilitating the purchase and sale of securities and operated by professional stockbrokers and market makers according to fixed rules

   2. a place where securities are regularly traded

   3. ( as modifier )

      a stock-exchange operator

      stock-exchange prices

2. the prices or trading activity of a stock exchange

   the stock exchange fell heavily today

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stock exchange Cultural  

1. A place where stocks, bonds, and other securities are bought and sold.

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Discover More

In the United States, the two largest stock exchanges are the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Activity on these two exchanges is usually considered an indication of the state of the economy as a whole.

Etymology

Origin of stock exchange

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

It is a period of time, mandated by the SEC, during which leaders of a business actively preparing to list on a public stock exchange are not supposed to make certain statements.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

It plans to go public as soon as June 12 and is expected to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange, according to The Wall Street Journal.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Japanese memory supplier Kioxia plans to list American depositary shares on a U.S. stock exchange to expand its investor base.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Revenue, however, dipped two percent to £2.4 billion, and the company's shares fell in early deals on the London stock exchange.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

The Johannesburg stock exchange plunged and capital started to flow out of the country.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• exchange