company

¹com·pa·ny

noun, often attributive \ˈkəmp-nē, ˈkəm-pə-\

plural com·pa·nies

Definition of COMPANY

1

a : association with another : fellowship <enjoy a person's company> b : companions, associates <know a person by the company she keeps> c : visitors, guests <having company for dinner>

2

a : a group of persons or things <a company of horsemen> b : a body of soldiers; especially : a unit (as of infantry) consisting usually of a headquarters and two or more platoons c : an organization of performing artists d : the officers and crew of a ship e : a firefighting unit

3

a : a chartered commercial organization or medieval trade guild b : an association of persons for carrying on a commercial or industrial enterprise c : those members of a partnership firm whose names do not appear in the firm name <John Doe and Company>

Examples of COMPANY

1. He runs his own trucking company.
2. She joined the company last year.
3. The company is based in Paris.
4. Her dogs are her only company these days.
5. You can tell a lot about people by the company they keep.

Origin of COMPANY

Middle English companie, from cumpaignie, from cumpaing companion — more at companion

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to COMPANY

Synonyms: troop, troupe

Related Words: stock company; cast, dramatis personae, ensemble

Near Antonyms: forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite