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

While being confronted with disruptive technological change and economic uncertainty, business leaders also face impatient shareholders and corporate directors demanding immediate results. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

In January 2025, the company’s board of directors unanimously recommended that shareholders vote against an anti-DEI proposal from a conservative group. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026

This situation resembles a shareholder structure in which those with a million shares effectively hold a million votes, while those with one share hold only one. —Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

That would hammer returns for the institutions and non-selling small shareholders that remain. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 Mar. 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