# holder

/ˈhoʊɫdɝ/ (US) · /hˈəʊldɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/holder
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person who has something

noun · CEFR B1

a person who officially owns or has something, such as a passport, a job, or a bank account.

For teachers: an individual who possesses or maintains a specific legal document, title, or position.

- The card holder must sign the back of the credit card before using it.
- The policy holder is required to notify the insurance company of any significant changes to their property within thirty days.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in compound nouns like 'passport holder', 'account holder', or 'ticket holder'.

### 2. an object that supports

noun · CEFR B1

a small device or container used to hold or carry a specific item.

For teachers: a physical device or receptacle designed to secure, support, or contain a particular object.

- She put the hot coffee cup into the plastic holder in her car.
- The laboratory technician placed the test tubes into the metal holder to ensure they remained upright during the cooling process.

### 3. defending champion

noun · CEFR B2

the person or team that currently has a title or trophy from a previous win.

For teachers: the current possessor of a title, trophy, or record in a competitive context.

- The current holder of the world record will compete again this Saturday.
- As the defending trophy holder, the team faced immense pressure to maintain their undefeated streak during the national finals.

Teaching tip: Often appears as 'title holder' or 'record holder'.

### 4. ship worker

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a person who works in the hold (the storage area) of a ship.

For teachers: a worker employed to handle cargo within the hold of a vessel.

- The holders worked quickly to organize the crates before the ship left.
- The captain praised the efficiency of the holders, noting that the entire cargo was secured well before the storm reached the harbour.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific maritime term that most learners will not encounter outside of historical or technical nautical texts.

## Examples

- He is the current record holder for the marathon.
- The passport holder must sign the final page to make the document valid for international travel.
- While the primary title holder retained his position, the committee noted that several technical violations could lead to a formal challenge of the results in the upcoming season.

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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.