merger

noun

merg·er | \ ˈmər-jər

Definition of merger

1 law : the absorption of an estate, a contract, or an interest in another, of a minor offense in a greater, or of a cause of action into a judgment

2a : the act or process of merging

b : absorption by a corporation of one or more others also : any of various methods of combining two or more organizations (such as business concerns)

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing merger Learn More About merger

Examples of merger in a Sentence

The law firm announced its $50 million merger with one of its competitors. If the proposed merger of the two oil companies goes through, it would be bad for the economy.

Recent Examples on the Web Some traders might be thinking this is a prelude to a takeover, Elon Musk -style, or even a merger or alliance with FTX. — Telis Demos, WSJ, 13 May 2022 The right balance of research and auditing, with a great dose of behavioral economics analysis, can lay down the groundwork for an acquisition or a merger. — Giovambattista Scuticchio Foderaro, Forbes, 6 May 2022 And the fallout from the Warner Bros. Discovery merger and Amazon’s acquisition of MGM has just gotten underway, with top exec Michael De Luca exiting the latter April 27 and squashed initiatives at the former. — Diane Garrett, Variety, 4 May 2022 That’s because as every junior I-banker well knows (and laments), there’s a window between Friday’s closing bell and Monday’s opening bell where merger or takeover negotiations—aka ‘material’ discussions—can go on and nobody has to report them. — Anne Sraders, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2022 The merger and capital raise will allow HARTBEAT to expand and invest in the future of comedic entertainment, producing more in-demand content and experiences where comedy meets culture. — Corein Carter, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2022 Kevin Hart is expanding his busy comedy production empire with the merger of two existing production banners and an influx of $100 million though the sale of a minority stake to private equity firm Abry Partners. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 26 Apr. 2022 In addition to the loud distraction of a merger and lead executives coming and going, CNN+'s emergence arguably wasn't helped by former corporate parent AT&T Time Warner's financial woes in the telecom space. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 21 Apr. 2022 After some negotiating, the companies engaged in the merger or acquisition announce a deal has been struck. — Tuugi Chuluun, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'merger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About merger

Dictionary Entries Near merger

Mergentheim

merger

mergh

Statistics for merger

Last Updated

15 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Merger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merger. Accessed 23 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for merger

merger

noun

merg·er | \ ˈmər-jər

Kids Definition of merger

: the combination of two or more businesses into one

merger

noun

merg·er | \ ˈmər-jər

Legal Definition of merger

1 : the absorption of a lesser estate or interest into a greater one held by the same person — compare confusion

2 : the incorporation and superseding of one contract by another

3a : the treatment (as by statute) of two offenses deriving from the same conduct such that a defendant cannot be or is not punished for both especially when one offense is incidental to or necessarily included in the other a merger of offenses in a statute a merger of convictions

b : the doctrine according to which such offenses must be merged — compare double jeopardy

Note: Merger commonly involves the interpretation of statutes and legislative intent in deciding whether two or more offenses deriving from the same conduct remain distinct.

4 : a doctrine in civil litigation: a judgment in favor of a plaintiff incorporates and supersedes the cause of action and any claims based on it and requires that further litigation in the case by the defendant be concerned with the judgment itself — compare bar sense 3b, estoppel by judgment at estoppel sense 2a, res judicata

5 : the superseding of a prior agreement in a divorce case by the divorce decree

6a : the act or process of merging

b : absorption by one corporation of another also : any of various methods of combining two or more organizations (as business concerns) — compare consolidate

— cash merger

: a merger in which shareholders in the company to be absorbed receive cash for their shares rather than shares in the absorbing company a tender offer to be followed by a cash merger — see also cash out

— de facto merger

: a merger that is characterized by the issuance of stock to the corporation to be absorbed rather than an outright purchase of assets for cash, by continued participation of the shareholders, directors, and employees of the absorbed corporation, and by an assumption of liabilities by the absorbing corporation

Note: Shareholders in a de facto merger are considered to have the same right to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares as shareholders in a statutory merger.

— short-form merger

: an accelerated statutory merger between a subsidiary and a parent corporation that controls a large specified majority of shares in the subsidiary

— statutory merger

: a merger performed in accordance with relevant statutes that require specific procedures for the notification and approval of shareholders