# shareholder

/ˈʃɛɹˌhoʊɫdɝ/ (US) · /ʃˈeəhəʊldɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shareholder
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a person or company that owns at least one part of a business. Because they own a piece of the company, they can get a share of the profits and sometimes vote on how the business is run.

For teachers: an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. This ownership typically grants rights to a portion of the company's earnings and the ability to vote on corporate policy.

## Examples

- The company sent a report to every shareholder.
- The board of directors met yesterday to discuss how to increase value for each shareholder after a difficult fiscal year.
- Institutional shareholders often exert significant pressure on executive boards to adopt more transparent environmental policies, leveraging their massive equity stakes to force a vote during the annual general meeting.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the plural when discussing corporate governance or market reactions.

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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.