shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er ˈsher-ˌhōl-dər 

: one that holds or owns a share in property

especially : stockholder

shareholding

ˈsher-ˌhōl-diŋ 

noun

Examples of shareholder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Biglari, who had purchased a 7% stake in the chain in 2007, became the company’s third-largest shareholder, owning more shares than all of Steak ‘n Shake’s then executive officers and directors combined. —Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025

These hurdles include consumer complaints, regulatory issues, high debt, a shareholder unfriendly structure, and a high value compared to rivals. —Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

More traditional petroleum industry followers would urge the companies to keep focused on their core fossil fuel businesses to meet growing energy demand and corresponding near-term shareholder returns. —Michael Oxman, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2025

The surge briefly made Ellison, now the company’s chairman and largest shareholder, the world’s richest person. —Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shareholder

• officeholder
• beholder
• bondholder
• cardholder
• freeholder
• householder
• landholder
• leaseholder
• lienholder
• placeholder
• slaveholder
• smallholder

Kids Definition

shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er -ˌhōl-dər 

: one that owns or holds a share in property

especially : stockholder

Legal Definition

shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er

: one that owns a share in a fund (as a mutual fund) or property

especially : stockholder see also derivative action, equity sense 4c, proxy contest

shareholding adjective or noun