corporation

[ kawr-puh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. an association of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members. municipal corporation, public corporation.
2. Corporation, the group of principal officials of a borough or other municipal division in England.
3. any group of persons united or regarded as united in one body.
4. Informal. a paunch; potbelly.

corporation

/ ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. a group of people authorized by law to act as a legal personality and having its own powers, duties, and liabilities
2. Also calledmunicipal corporation the municipal authorities of a city or town
3. a group of people acting as one body
4. See public corporation
5. informal.
   a large paunch or belly

corporation

1. A business organization owned by a group of stockholders , each of whom enjoys limited liability (that is, each can be held responsible for losses only up to the limit of his or her investment ). A corporation has the ability to raise capital by selling stock to the public.

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Words From

• corpo·ration·al adjective
• multi·corpo·ration noun
• noncor·po·ration noun
• subcor·po·ration noun
• super·corpo·ration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of corporation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin corporātiōn- (stem of corporātiō ) “guild,” Latin: “physical makeup, build”; corporate, -ion

Example Sentences

“Everybody’s just trying to assess what we should do next,” said Sharon Rapport, director of California state policy for the Corporation for Supportive Housing, an advocacy group that also works with homeless nonprofits.

From Los Angeles Times

It is now run and predominantly owned by chief executive Jay Graber as a US public benefit corporation.

From BBC

Tracy Blackwell, chief executive of Pension Insurance Corporation, told the BBC: "I think by having the scale and the right expertise internally to invest in a wide range of assets, they'll be able to invest in a lot more than what they can invest in now."

From BBC

The corporation has thanked all the cast and crew, while stressing it remained "fully committed" to TV production in the West Midlands.

From BBC

Gary Lineker has stepped down as co-presenter of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, following the news that he will leave Match of the Day, the corporation has confirmed.

From BBC

Related Words

• business
• company
• enterprise