someone who holds shares of stock in a corporation
"As a shareholder, she received the quarterly dividend payments directly from the company."
One who owns shares of stock in a corporation.
"As a major shareholder, she attended the annual meeting to vote on the new corporate strategy."
In plain English: A shareholder is someone who owns part of a company by buying its stock.
"The new shareholder voted to approve the company's merger plan at yesterday meeting."
Usage: A shareholder is an individual or entity that holds ownership interest in a company through its issued stocks, distinguishing them from bondholders who own debt securities instead. While all shareholders have legal rights to profits and voting power, common usage often conflates the term with "stockholder," though both refer to the same role without significant practical difference.
The word shareholder is a straightforward combination of the words share and holder that emerged to describe someone who owns shares in a company. Its meaning has remained consistent since its formation, simply identifying an owner rather than implying any change over time.