company

[ kuhm-puh-nee ]

noun

, plural com·pa·nies.

1. a number of individuals assembled or associated together; group of people.

   Synonyms: body, assemblage, group

2. a guest or guests:

   We're having company for dinner.

3. an assemblage of persons for social purposes.

   Synonyms: crowd, gathering

4. companionship; fellowship; association:

   I always enjoy her company.

5. one's usual companions:

   I don't like the company he keeps.

6. society collectively.

   Synonyms: corporation, house, firm

7. a number of persons united or incorporated for joint action, especially for business:

   a publishing company;

   a dance company.

8. (initial capital letter) the members of a firm not specifically named in the firm's title:

   George Higgins and Company.

9. Military.
   1. the smallest body of troops, consisting of a headquarters and two or three platoons.
   2. any relatively small group of soldiers.
   3. Army. a basic unit with both tactical and administrative functions.
10. a unit of firefighters, including their special apparatus:

    a hook-and-ladder company.

11. Also called ship's company. a ship's crew, including the officers.
12. a medieval trade guild.
13. the Company, Informal. a nation's major intelligence-gathering and espionage organization, as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

verb (used without object)

, com·pa·nied, com·pa·ny·ing.

1. Archaic. to associate.

verb (used with object)

, com·pa·nied, com·pa·ny·ing.

1. Archaic. to accompany.

company

/ ˈkʌmpənɪ /

noun

1. a number of people gathered together; assembly
2. the fact of being with someone; companionship

   I enjoy her company

3. a social visitor or visitors; guest or guests
4. a business enterprise
5. the members of an enterprise not specifically mentioned in the enterprise's title AbbreviationCoco
6. a group of actors, usually including business and technical personnel
7. a unit of around 100 troops, usually comprising two or more platoons
8. the officers and crew of a ship
9. a unit of Girl Guides
10. English history a medieval guild
11. keep company or bear company
    1. to accompany (someone)
    2. (esp of lovers) to associate with each other; spend time together
12. part company
    1. to end a friendship or association, esp as a result of a quarrel; separate
    2. foll by with to leave; go away (from); be separated (from)

verb

1. archaic.
   to keep company or associate (with someone)

Other Words From

• compa·ny·less adjective
• inter·compa·ny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of company¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French; Old French compaignie “companionship,” equivalent to compain (from Late Latin compāniō; companion ¹ ) + -ie -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of company¹

C13: from Old French compaignie, from compain companion, fellow, from Late Latin compāniō; see companion ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep company,
   1. to associate with; be a friend of.
   2. Informal. to go together, as in courtship:

      My sister has been keeping company with a young lawyer.

2. part company,
   1. to cease association or friendship with:

      We parted company 20 years ago after the argument.

   2. to take a different or opposite view; differ:

      He parted company with his father on politics.

   3. to separate:

      We parted company at the airport.

More idioms and phrases containing company

• keep someone company
• misery loves company
• part company
• two's company

Synonym Study

Company, band, party, troop refer to a group of people formally or informally associated. Company is the general word and means any group of people: a company of motorists. Band, used especially of a band of musicians, suggests a relatively small group pursuing the same purpose or sharing a common fate: a concert by a band; a band of survivors. Party, except when used of a political group, usually implies an indefinite and temporary assemblage, as for some common pursuit: a spelunking party. Troop, used specifically of a body of cavalry, usually implies a number of individuals organized as a unit: a troop of cavalry.

Example Sentences

Big media companies are bracing for the possibility that he will do Trump’s bidding when the president-elect threatens retribution against media outlets that are unfriendly to him.

From Los Angeles Times

Chief executive Jenny Mollica said Greater Manchester was “a region of limitless creative possibilities”, which would allow the company to “explore new visions for the future of opera”.

From BBC

The company is expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

Boycott companies associated with him and his allies?

From Salon

It remains to be seen if the company will take similar action in 2025.

From Salon

Related Words

• association
• club
• community
• group
• party
• team

More About Company

What does company mean?

Company refers to a group of people.

Company is a common word with many different specific meanings, but they all have to do with a gathering of people or interaction among a group of people.

The word company perhaps most commonly refers to a business. Energizer is a company that makes and sells batteries. When company is used in the name of a business, it is often abbreviated as Co.

Company can be the guests you have over to your house. It can also refer to the presence of others: enjoying the company of your cousins.

Example: Sarah likes to walk home from school in the company of her best friend, Joe.

Where does company come from?

The first records of the word company come from around 1200. It ultimately comes from the Late Latin compāniō, meaning “bread fellow.” Companion comes from the same source. Like companion, company has to do with people interacting with each other.

Company is used generally to mean a group of people gathered together. A parent may not like the company (friends) that their child keeps. Company can also be used to mean specific groups of people.

Company can refer to a small unit within the military or a larger group of firefighters. A ship’s crew is also a company.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to company?

• companies (plural noun)
• companyless (adjective)
• intercompany (adjective)

What are some synonyms for company?

• group
• community
• business
• corporation
• friends
• guests

What are some words that share a root or word element with company? 

• companion
• companionship

What are some words that often get used in discussing company?

• have
• keep
• part
• prefer
• business
• associates
• interaction

How is company used in real life?

Company is most often used to mean a business or the people someone surrounds themself with.

I think Brandi is pretty great. She’s the defacto top woman in the company and has multiple roles to play, which she does well. If she’s not the best in-ring worker, she can draw on some amazing talent to teach her.

— David Smalley (@SmalleyDa) September 22, 2020

I hate this company with all my heart. I wish they would just fire me.

— 🤍 (@anibayih) June 18, 2020

I received a present from my pet supply company! @chewy These are gorgeous hand painted pictures of my pets from @KendraAldrich I am beside myself with glee. Thank You! Now, all I need is a matching one of my snuggle baby to complete my set. 🥰 #happybirthdaytome #petportraits pic.twitter.com/SV38aAN6ko

— Brianna Miller (@BriannaM0929) September 22, 2020

 

 

Try using company!

Is company used correctly in the following sentence?

The loner superhero preferred the company of bats to other people.