interest

interest

noun

Definition of INTEREST

1

a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something <all of the workers at the food cooperative have an interest in it>

Synonyms claim, share, stake

Related Words co-ownership, ownership, part, partnership, possession, title

2

the state of doing well especially in relation to one's happiness or success <make no mistake: she's determined to act in her own interest in this business deal>

Synonyms good, interest, weal, well-being

Related Words fortune, prosperity, prosperousness, success, successfulness; fitness, health, healthiness, robustness, soundness, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness; bliss, felicity, happiness, joy; advantage, benefit, gain, sake; content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction

Near Antonyms unhealthiness, unsoundness; misery, sadness, suffering, unhappiness, wretchedness

Antonyms ill-being

3

a commercial or industrial activity or organization <a multinational corporation with interests on every continent>

Synonyms business, company, concern, establishment, firm, house, interest, outfit

Related Words conglomerate, corporation, multinational; association, cartel, chain, combine, syndicate, trust; agency, dealer, outlet; microenterprise

4

a group of people with a common identifying interest that they seek to protect and promote <the contention that the nation's financial interests have too much power>

Synonyms interest, pressure group, special interest

Related Words vested interest; political action committee