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

• 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

That’s the same warning that has been issued by Google, Microsoft and others as regards attacks on their own account holders. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

Master’s degree holders have long dominated the returnee landscape, accounting for nearly 80% of all returnees last year, according to an annual survey by Zhilian Zhaopin, a leading recruitment platform in China. —Joyce Jiang, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025

Tickets range from $30 to $50, with season seat holders receiving priority access starting Wednesday through the end of the month. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025

Laura Ashley is also collaborating with Brewers, a Royal Warrant holder, on other wall coverings that feature re-colored classics and current bestselling designs. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025

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