# conglomerate

/kənˈɡɫɑmɝət/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/conglomerate
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a very large company that is made up of several smaller companies. These smaller companies often do very different types of business.

For teachers: a large corporation formed by the merger of several separate and often diverse companies. In a geological context, refers to a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded fragments within a cementing matrix.

## Examples

- The international conglomerate owns several TV stations and a major airline.
- After the merger, the tech conglomerate expanded its reach into the healthcare and renewable energy sectors.
- Critics argue that when a massive conglomerate controls both the production and distribution of goods, it stifles competition and limits consumer choice within the global marketplace.

## Usage notes

- Countable when referring to specific business entities or rock formations; uncountable when referring to the general material in geology.

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