: a program by which a corporation's employees acquire its stock

Examples of ESOP in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He was stunned that Proponent’s ESOP allowed employees to build substantial retirement savings without contributing a dime beyond their work. Mary Josephs, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Another option is to transfer ownership of the company through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Wendy Stewart, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025 Indeed, nearly 15 million Americans have gotten a promotion from worker to owner thanks to an ESOP. Jove Oliver, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025 The two options under consideration were selling control or converting to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Bruce Werner, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 Total stockholders' equity increased by $50.1 million, mainly due to the proceeds from the stock offering, offset by an unearned ESOP and accumulated other comprehensive loss. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 In 2017, the company sold itself to its employees, through a financial transaction known as an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 The company has 19,000 employees and about 23% of the company is owned by full-time employees in an ESOP. Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 28 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

employee stock ownership plan

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ESOP was in 1973

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“ESOP.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ESOP. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

: a program by which a corporation's employees may acquire its capital stock
Etymology

employee stock ownership plan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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