holder

noun

hold·​er ˈhōl-dər 

1

: a person that holds: such as

a(1)

: owner

(2)

: tenant

b

: a person in possession of and legally entitled to receive payment of a bill, note, or check

2

: a device that holds

a cigarette holder

Synonyms of holder

• owner
• proprietor

Examples of holder in a Sentence

She is the holder of an honorary degree.

the holder of a world record

Recent Examples on the Web

Although their low final position meant the competition's 2022-23 champions had to face holders Real Madrid (who had finished 11th) in the play-offs, where they were beaten 6-3 on aggregate. —Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

According to information sent to season-ticket holders this week, all sections at Reynolds Razorback Stadium will be sold based on donation levels to the Razorback Foundation, effectively ending any grandfathered seating rates. —Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026

That’s the amount the developer must make in partial payments this week to holders of three bonds, after winning their approval to push back full repayment by one year. —Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026

Doar disagrees, saying that permit-to-carry holders have every right to carry a firearm at a protest. —Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing holder

• co-holder
• holder in due course
• pot holder
• record holder
• slave holder

Rhymes for holder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder
• bondholder

Kids Definition

holder

noun

hold·​er ˈhōl-dər 

1

: a person that holds

especially : a legal owner

2

: a device that holds

Legal Definition

holder

noun

hold·​er

1

: a person that holds: as

a

: owner

the holder of a patent

—often used in combination

a stockholder

b

: one that holds or occupies the property of another by agreement and especially under a lease

2

a

: a person who under the Uniform Commercial Code is in possession of a negotiable instrument that names and is made payable to the possessor or that is payable to bearer

b

: a person under the Uniform Commercial Code in possession of goods named in a document of title if the goods are deliverable to bearer or to the order of the possessor

3

in the civil law of Louisiana : an individual (as a trustee or debtor) or legal or commercial entity that under the Civil Code's provisions for disposition of unclaimed property is in possession of property belonging to another