# stakeholder

/ˈsteɪkˌhoʊɫdɝ/ (US) · /stˈeɪkhəʊldɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stakeholder
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. interested party

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a person or group that is affected by a business, project, or decision.

For teachers: a person or organisation with a legitimate interest in a given situation, action, or enterprise, often including employees, customers, and the local community.

- The school invited parents and teachers to the meeting as they are the main stakeholders in the new policy.
- Effective corporate social responsibility requires a company to balance the competing interests of various stakeholders, from shareholders to environmental groups.

Usage: Often used in the plural to refer to all groups involved in a project.

### 2. legal holder of funds

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

a person or organization that holds money for other people while they are waiting to finish a legal agreement.

For teachers: a neutral third party, such as a trustee or escrow agent, who holds money or assets until a contractual condition is met or a dispute is resolved.

- The lawyer acted as a stakeholder for the deposit until the house sale was finished.
- The funds were held by an independent stakeholder pending the final resolution of the contractual dispute between the two firms.

### 3. holder of bets

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a person who holds the money that people have bet on a race or game until a winner is found.

For teachers: a person who holds the stakes of bettors and is responsible for delivering the total amount to the winner.

- In the old days, a trusted stakeholder would keep the money until the horse race was over.
- Before the advent of regulated bookmaking, the stakeholder was a vital figure in ensuring the integrity of private wagers.

## Examples

- The company must listen to every stakeholder before making changes.
- The school board invited parents, teachers, and local business owners to the meeting as they are all key stakeholders in the new curriculum.
- Effective project management requires balancing the competing interests of various stakeholders, from the investors seeking profit to the environmental groups concerned about the long-term ecological impact.

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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.