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
• possessor
• 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 festival reached a settlement with 277 ticket holders in 2021, when it was ordered to pay each recipient an award of $7,220. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025

What People Are Saying Elon Musk initially brought attention to the SSA's records on dead Social Security number holders in February. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025

Inside are four credit card slots, a passport pocket, a SIM card slot, and a pen holder, while the exterior has a slim ticket sleeve for your boarding pass. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2025

The current seat holder, Micah Young, is not seeking re-election. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 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