# LLC

/ˌɛˌɫɛɫˌsi/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. business structure

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

Stands for Limited Liability Company. A business where the owners do not have to pay the company's debts with their own personal money.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Limited Liability Company. A legal business entity that protects its members from personal liability for corporate debts while allowing for flexible tax treatment.

- She decided to register her small catering business as an LLC to protect her personal savings.
- The partners opted to form an LLC rather than a corporation to avoid double taxation while maintaining a shield against personal liability for the firm's obligations.

Usage: Usually used as a post-nominal title after a company name, often preceded by a comma.

Teaching tip: This is primarily a US legal term. In the UK, the equivalent structure is usually a 'Private Limited Company' (Ltd).

### 2. computing/networking

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Logical Link Control. A technical part of a computer network that helps different devices talk to each other.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Logical Link Control. The upper sublayer of the data link layer in the OSI model, providing addressing and control mechanisms for various network protocols.

- The network engineer checked the LLC settings to fix the connection problem between the two servers.
- The LLC sublayer acts as an interface between the media access control layer and the network layer, ensuring reliable data transmission across the physical link.

Usage: Used as an uncountable noun in technical documentation.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively by network engineers and IT professionals.

## Examples

- She registered her new consulting business as an LLC.
- Small business owners often choose to form an LLC to separate their personal assets from their professional risks.
- While an LLC offers significant protection against personal liability, members must be careful not to commingle personal and business funds, which could lead to a legal challenge of their corporate veil.

---

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.
