Ordinary shares are shares in a company that are owned by people who have a right to vote at the company's meetings and to receive part of the company's profits after the holders of preference shares have been paid. Compare preference shares.
[British, business]regional note: in AM, use common stock
ordinary shares in British English
plural noun
British
shares representing part of the capital issued by a company and entitling their holders to a dividend that varies according to the prosperity of the company, to vote at all meetings of members, and to a claim on the net assets of the company, after the holders of preference shares have been paid
US equivalent: common stock. Compare preference shares, See also A shares