company
Other forms: companies; companied; companying
Company most often implies a group, whether it be a group of people, a unit of firefighters, a small group of soldiers, or a group working for the same business.
Company can also refer to a visitor, often for dinner. This usage is both singular and plural, so if your mom says "there's company coming for dinner," you will need to know how many places to set at the table. There are more than a few idioms using the word company. When you are with someone, you “keep company” with them. For the more dour, there is “misery loves company."
Definitions of company
-
an institution created to conduct business“he only invests in large well-established companies”“he started the company in his garage”types:broadcasting companya company that manages tv or radio stationsbureau de change(French) an establishment where you can exchange foreign moneydot com, dot com company, dot-coma company that operates its business primarily on the internet using a URL that ends in `.com'East India Companyan English company formed in 1600 to develop trade with the new British colonies in India and southeastern Asia; in the 18th century it assumed administrative control of Bengal and held it until the British army took over in 1858 after the Indian Mutinyelectronics companya company that makes and sells electronic instrumentsfilm companya company that makes, advertises, and distributes moviesfood companya company that processes and sells foodfurniture companya company that sells furnituremining companya company that owns and manages minesshipping companya company that provides shipping servicessteel companya company that makes and sells steeltransportation companya company providing transportationdistributora company that markets merchandiseoil companya company that sells oilpipeline companya company that operates oil pipelines for the oil industrycorporate investora company that invests in (acquires control of) other companiestakeover target, target companya company that has been chosen as attractive for takeover by a potential acquirerwhite knighta company that is a friendly acquirer in a takeoverholding companya company with controlling shares in other companiesservicea company or agency that performs a public service; subject to government regulationlivery companyone of the chartered companies of London originating with the craft guildsopen shopa company whose workers are hired without regard to their membership in a labor unionclosed shopa company that hires only union membersunion shopa company allowed to hire nonunion workers on the condition that they will join the union within a specified timestock companya company whose capital is represented by stockjoint-stock companya company (usually unincorporated) which has the capital of its members pooled in a common fund; transferable shares represent ownership interest; shareholders are legally liable for all debts of the companyrecord companya company that makes and sells musical recordingsmover, moving company, public mover, removal company, removal firma company that moves the possessions of a family or business from one site to anotherthink factory, think tanka company that does research for hire and issues reports on the implicationsshippera company in the business of shipping freightstartupa newly established company or business venturestart-upa newly established company or business ventureindiean independent film company not associated with an established studiotrucking companya company that ships goods or possessions by truckdirect mailera distributor who uses direct mail to sell merchandiseretail chaina chain of retail storesraidera corporate investor who intends to take over a company by buying a controlling interest in its stock and installing new managementsleeping beautya potential takeover target that has not yet been put in playwhite squirea white knight that buys less than a majority interestbank holding companya holding company owning or controlling one or more bankspublic utility, public utility company, public-service corporation, utilitya company that performs a public service; subject to government regulationtype of:
-
a band of people associated temporarily in some activity“the company of cooks walked into the kitchen”synonyms: partytypes:fatigue partya group of soldiers on fatigue dutylanding partya part of a ship's company organized for special duties ashorerescue partya party of rescuerssearch partya party of people to search for someonestretcher partya party of people with stretchers to carry an injured personwar partya band of warriors who raid or fight an enemy (used especially of Native Americans)
-
an organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical)“the traveling company all stayed at the same hotel”synonyms: troupetypes:opera companya company that produces operastheater companya company that produces playsballet companya company that produces balletsGreek chorus, chorusa company of actors who comment (by speaking or singing in unison) on the action in a classical Greek playcircusa travelling company of entertainers; including trained animalsminstrel showa troupe of performers in blackfaceminstrelsya troupe of minstrelstype of:
-
a unit of firefighters including their equipment
-
small military unit; usually two or three platoons
-
crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a shipsynonyms: ship's company
-
the state of being with someone“he missed their company”synonyms: companionship, fellowship, societytypes:freemasonrya natural or instinctive fellowship between people of similar intereststype of:
-
a social gathering of guests or companions“the house was filled with company when I arrived”types:attendancethe number of people that are presentcohorta company of companions or supportersnumbera select company of peopletype of:
-
a social or business visitor
-
be a companion to somebody
Pronunciation
US
UK
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘company'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing company
Theater - Introductory
Here's your cue: Put this list in the spotlight and learn all about theater. Review genres of drama, parts of a play, stage directions, and more. Set the stage for vocabulary and you're sure to steal the show.
Business, List 1
Prepare for the IELTS exam with this list of words related to business.
Theater - Middle School
Here's your cue: Put this list in the spotlight and learn all about theater. Review genres of drama, parts of a play, stage directions, and more. Set the stage for vocabulary and you're sure to steal the show.