shareholder

noun

share·​hold·​er ˈsher-ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce shareholder (audio)
: one that holds or owns a share in property
especially : stockholder
shareholding
ˈsher-ˌhōl-diŋ How to pronounce shareholder (audio)
noun

Examples of shareholder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rebuild Confidence With Franchisees And Investors Ultimately, Montgomery will be judged on sales, profitability and shareholder returns. — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Mac Steer, the owner of a telecommunications company and a frequent traveler, advised skipping the big chains that answer to shareholders. — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 The club’s current roster of shareholders runs 28 deep, excluding Berg, who was removed from the ownership page on LAFC’s website. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Klarna is backed by Sequoia Capital, which has invested in the company since 2010 and remains its largest institutional shareholder. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shareholder

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shareholder was in 1755

Rhymes for shareholder

See All Rhymes for shareholder

Browse Nearby Words

shareef
shareholder
shareman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shareholder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shareholder. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shareholder

noun
share·​hold·​er -ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce shareholder (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on shareholder

Nglish: Translation of shareholder for Spanish Speakers

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