owner

noun own·er \ ˈō-nər \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Definition of owner

plural owners

: a person who owns something : one who has the legal or rightful title to something : one to whom property belongs

business/property owners

He and his sister are owners of the restaurant.

We were able to return the wallet to its rightful owner.

—often used in combination

dog-owners and cat-owners

See owner defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of owner from the Web

Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 on 17 counts related to the attempted Senate seat sale and the fundraising shakedowns of a hospital executive and a racetrack owner.

— gregory pratt, chicagotribune.com, "In Chicago, Pelosi calls Trump's suggestion of clemency for Blago the 'shiny object of the moment'," 2 June 2018
Later in the service, parishioners prayed for Hermond, a 39-year-old Air Force veteran who was trying to save a shop owner trapped by the flood when he was swept away.

— sarah meehan, Howard County Times, "Archbishop Lori, Ellicott City parishioners pray for Hermond, other flooding victims at Mass," 2 June 2018
Stelco is just getting back on its feet under a new American owner.

— ian austen, New York Times, "‘A Slap in the Canadians’ Face.’ Ontario Steel Town Reacts to Trump’s Tariffs.," 1 June 2018
The man, a licensed gun owner, reached for his handgun.

— lavendrick smith, charlotteobserver, "As paintball assaults spiked in Charlotte, some feared real bullets would follow," 1 June 2018
Of course, facing a distraught owner is hard — but not as hard as being the person who just lost a treasured animal.

— lauren ritchie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Callous driver hits beloved dog, leaves him like trash by the roadside," 1 June 2018
When does the trust decide on a new controlling owner?

— khadrice rollins, SI.com, "Broncos Ownership Saga: Breaking Down Beth Bowlen Wallace's Efforts to Take Control in Denver," 1 June 2018
Simon Wong, a local shop owner, predicts that more Chinatown businesses, particularly in the catering industry, will be forced to close down in future.

— The Economist, "Europe’s oldest Chinatown fights for survival," 31 May 2018
Another case was closed when a new owner didn't comply with existing orders.

— mary spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee failed to protect lead-poisoned children by massive neglect and missteps," 31 May 2018

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

First Known Use of owner

before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

owner Synonyms

Financial Definition of OWNER

beneficial owner

noun

What It Is

The beneficial owner is the individual or entity that enjoys the benefits of owning an asset, regardless of whose name the title of the property or security is in.

How It Works

Beneficial ownership commonly refers to two situations:

1. Under U.S. securities law, a beneficial owner enjoys either sole or shared power regarding voting rights in a stock. According to the SEC, this right extends to include stock or securities owned by one person even if the title is held by another person or entity.
2. Beneficial ownership can also refer to a situation where an individual or entity holds the right of ownership even if the stock is registered with another entity, such as a brokerage house. In this case, while the brokerage firm is actually shown as the holder of the security, the investor is the beneficial owner.

For example, Bob buys 100 shares of stock in Company ABC via a brokerage house. Even though the stock is recorded under the broker's name, Bob is the beneficial owner.

Why It Matters

Beneficial ownership is a convenient and safe way of owning stock, especially for investors who want to hold securities without the responsibilities of voting or becoming involved in corporate actions.

To learn more about the best brokers for beginner investors, check out 6 Low Commission Brokers that Make Our Cut. If you're looking for brokers with more advanced trading platforms, click here to read Essential Trade Tools for the Advanced Investor.

Source: Investing Answers

OWNER Defined for Kids

owner

noun own·er \ ˈō-nər \

Definition of owner for Students

: a person who owns something

Law Dictionary

owner

noun own·er

legal Definition of owner

: one with an interest in and often dominion over property: as

a : legal owner in this entry

b : one with the right to exclusive use, control, or possession of property

c : a purchaser under a contract for the sale of real property — see also equitable owner in this entry

— beneficial owner

1 : one holding a beneficial interest in a trust — compare beneficial interest at interest 1

2 : one enjoying the benefit of property of which another is the legal owner

was the beneficial owner of property held by the parent corporation

3 : one who has or shares the power to control the voting or investment of stock

was considered the beneficial owner of stock held by her minor children

— equitable owner

: one (as a beneficiary of a trust) who is considered to have rights or obligations of an owner regardless of legal title on the ground of equity

do not have legal title but, upon execution of the contract, they became equitable owners and have power to sue to protect their land
—Dessen v. Jones, 551 N.E.2d 782 (1990)

— legal owner

: one who has legal title to property; broadly : one determined by law to own property

— naked owner

in the civil law of Louisiana : an owner of property burdened by a usufruct

— record owner

: one who is the owner of property (as land or stock) according to current appropriate records