private company

noun

: a company under British law restricting the right of its stockholders to transfer their shares, limiting its members to 50 exclusive of shareholders who are present or former employees, and not inviting the public to subscribe for any shares or debentures

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!