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

Health insurance may not cover policy holders abroad, so double-check those terms beforehand (and look into travel insurance as needed). —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026

Can season-ticket holders pay over a period of time? —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026

UConn’s 2024-25 backcourt was anchored by a pair of veteran point guards in three-time All-American Paige Bueckers and Princeton graduate Kaitlyn Chen, and the Huskies also had Nika Muhl, the program record-holder for career assists, during Arnold’s freshman year in 2023-24. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026

Tellingly, insurers were not ordered to compensate the policy holders. —Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026

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