A stock option is an opportunity for the employees of a company to buy shares at a special price.
[US, business]
He made a huge profit from shares purchased under the company's stock option program.
regional note: in BRIT use share option
stock option in British English
(stɒk ˈɒpʃən)
noun
US
the right to buy or sell shares at a stated price over a particular period
He made a huge profit from the sale of shares purchased in January under the company'sstock option program.
stock option in American English
noun
an option giving the holder, usually an officer or employee, the right to buy stock of the issuing corporation at a specific price within a stated period