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

Paramount, having been spurned at the bidding stage, has launched an all-cash, aggressive takeover as its next move, going directly to shareholders in the hopes of earning their approval. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025

In 2017, Harvard Law School found that women CEOs had almost a 50% higher probability than men of becoming the target of shareholder activism. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025

Our problem is exclusive capitalism—systems designed almost solely for shareholders and C-suite executives, while neglecting the employees, vendors, neighborhoods and communities that make those returns possible. —Bobby Turner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025

As reported, Taj is said to be committed to maintaining its affiliation with the Pierre and its relationship with shareholders. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 9 Dec. 2025

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