# company town

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/company-town
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A town, city, or other municipality in which a single large business has a controlling influence over the economy and, sometimes, over the societal structure and the local government.

## Examples

- The local factory owns every house in this company town.
- Because the mining company provides all the housing and jobs, the residents feel trapped in a company town.
- The region suffered significantly when the primary employer closed its doors, revealing the inherent fragility of life in a company town.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.