IPO

noun

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈō 

plural IPOs

: an initial public offering of a company's stock

Examples of IPO in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The stock fell below its June IPO price after a second-quarter loss, largely due to one-time issues, masking its growth potential. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Given the complexities involved, donors and advisers should begin planning well before an IPO. — Joe Crome, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

The day of the June 12 SpaceX IPO, Meyer emailed his investors in his SpaceX funds, including the one that had lost its stake. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

The Financial Times reports that nearly a quarter of its revenue in 2025 came from just two clients, which is a precarious situation for any company, let alone one trying to tempt prospective investors into a $2 trillion IPO. — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

initial public offering

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

IPO

noun

ˌī-ˌpē-ˈō 

: an initial public offering of a company's stock