someone entrusted to hold the stakes for two or more persons betting against one another; must deliver the stakes to the winner
"The referee acted as a stakeholder, holding the betting money until he could declare the final winner."
A person holding the stakes of bettors, with the responsibility of delivering the pot to the winner of the bet.
"The casino manager acted as a stakeholder by collecting all bets from the players and ensuring the full pot was handed over to the winning gambler once the game concluded."
In plain English: A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in how something goes, whether they own part of it or just care about its outcome.
"The company asked every major stakeholder for their opinion on the new project before making a final decision."
Usage: In modern business contexts, a stakeholder refers to anyone with an interest in an organization's success, distinct from the original gambling definition where they hold betting funds. Avoid using this term for shareholders alone, as it specifically includes employees, customers, and community members who are affected by corporate actions but do not own equity.
The word stakeholder is a straightforward combination of the words stake and holder. It was first used to describe someone who holds an interest or investment in a project rather than just owning physical property.