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 of holder

• 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

The leather case has a detachable slim strap, a single-card holder on the back, and gold hardware. —Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

Data provided by the Illinois State Police shows nearly 1 in 5 CDL holders with English Language Proficiency infractions have licenses issued by the state of Illinois. —Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025

Online banks, thanks to lower overhead maintenance costs that banks with physical branches have, are often able to pass on those savings to account holders in the form of higher interest rates. —Courtney Mikulski, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

Fans anticipate potential Messi-Argentina game in KC One of the biggest reactions from the Kansas City crowd came from the announcement of Argentina, the defending the 2022 FIFA World Cup title-holders, being in the Group J pool. —Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 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