holder

noun

hold·​er ˈhōl-dər 

1

: a person that holds: such as

a(1)

: owner

(2)

: tenant

b

: a person in possession of and legally entitled to receive payment of a bill, note, or check

2

: a device that holds

a cigarette holder

Synonyms

• owner
• possessor
• proprietor

Examples of holder in a Sentence

She is the holder of an honorary degree.

the holder of a world record

Recent Examples on the Web

At the end of last year and before the crackdown took effect, ten small institutions had more international study permit holders than the University of Toronto, the country’s highest ranking institution. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 17 Aug. 2024

On top of that, account holders earn interest on their balances and get access to a convenient mobile app. —Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2024

Anything above that amount would go to holders of common stock, which included both the plaintiffs and the two private equity firms. —Dan Primack, Axios, 16 Aug. 2024

Sometimes, public office holders can lead the way by showing what not to do. —Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing holder

• co-holder
• holder in due course
• pot holder
• record holder
• slave holder

Kids Definition

holder

noun

hold·​er ˈhōl-dər 

1

: a person that holds

especially : a legal owner

2

: a device that holds

Legal Definition

holder

noun

hold·​er

1

: a person that holds: as

a

: owner

the holder of a patent

—often used in combination

a stockholder

b

: one that holds or occupies the property of another by agreement and especially under a lease

2

a

: a person who under the Uniform Commercial Code is in possession of a negotiable instrument that names and is made payable to the possessor or that is payable to bearer

b

: a person under the Uniform Commercial Code in possession of goods named in a document of title if the goods are deliverable to bearer or to the order of the possessor

3

in the civil law of Louisiana : an individual (as a trustee or debtor) or legal or commercial entity that under the Civil Code's provisions for disposition of unclaimed property is in possession of property belonging to another