shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er ˈsher-ˌhōl-dər 

: one that holds or owns a share in property

especially : stockholder

shareholding

ˈsher-ˌhōl-diŋ 

noun

Examples of shareholder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In his recent shareholder letter, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy emphasized Amazon's focus on improving delivery speeds for rural customers, underscoring how strategically important those areas have become. —Barbara Booth, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026

So do private companies like Thiruvadanai Nerkkalanjiyam Farmer Producer Company, where farmers are shareholders. —Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026

San Diegans should look at this in the same way that a shareholder in a small company would evaluate that company when the number of midlevel bosses went from seven to 39 — even as the company’s overall workload remained about the same. —U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026

But the deal is highly complex and could end up being consummated in several different ways depending on whether UMG shareholders elect to swap their shares for cash or stock in the new entity, or a combination. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shareholder

• officeholder
• beholder
• bondholder
• cardholder
• freeholder
• householder
• landholder
• leaseholder
• lienholder
• placeholder
• slaveholder
• smallholder

Kids Definition

shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er -ˌhōl-dər 

: one that owns or holds a share in property

especially : stockholder

Legal Definition

shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er

: one that owns a share in a fund (as a mutual fund) or property

especially : stockholder see also derivative action, equity sense 4c, proxy contest

shareholding adjective or noun