A company is a business organization that makes money by selling goods or services.
Sheila found some work as a secretary in an insurance company.
...the Ford Motor Company.
Synonyms: business, firm, association, corporation More Synonyms of company
2. countable noun
A company is a group of opera singers, dancers, or actors who work together.
...the Phoenix Dance Company.
3. countable noun
A company is a group of soldiers that is usually part of a battalion or regiment, and that is divided into two or more platoons.
The division will consist of two tank companies and one infantry company.
C Company's sentries were just ahead.
Synonyms: troop, unit, squad, team More Synonyms of company
4. uncountable noun
Company is having another person or other people with you, usually when this is pleasant or stops you feeling lonely.
'I won't stay long.'—'No, please. I need the company'.
Ross enjoyed the company of his colleagues. [+ of]
She would be grateful for their company on the drive back.
I'm not in the mood for company.
Synonyms: companionship, society [old-fashioned], presence, fellowship More Synonyms of company
5. See also joint-stock company, public company
6.
See and company
7.
See be in good company
8.
See have company
9.
See in company
10.
See in company with sb
11.
See to keep someone company
12.
See keep company
13.
See to part company
14.
See to part company
15.
See to part company
16.
See present company excepted
More Synonyms of company
company in British English
(ˈkʌmpənɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-nies
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
Abbreviation: Co, co
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
12. part company
verbWord forms: -nies, -nying or -nied
13. archaic
to keep company or associate (with someone)
Word origin
C13: from Old French compaignie, from compain companion, fellow, from Late Latin compāniō; see companion1
company in American English
(ˈkʌmpəni)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcompanies
1.
companionship; society
to enjoy another's company
2.
a group of people
; specif.,
a.
a group gathered for social purposes
b.
a group associated for some purpose, as to form a commercial or industrial firm
a theatrical company, a manufacturing company
3.
a trade guild in the Middle Ages
4.
the partners whose names are not given in the title of a firm
John Smith and Company
5.
a guest or guests; visitor or visitors
6.
a habitual associate or associates
people are judged by the company they keep
7. Military
a body of troops; specif., the lowest administrative unit, as of infantry, normally composed of two or more platoons and a headquarters
8.
all of a ship's personnel, including the officers
: in full ship's company
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcompanied or ˈcompanying
9. Archaic
to accompany
verb intransitive
10. Archaic
to associate (with)
SIMILAR WORDS: troop
Idioms:
keep company
keep (a person) company
part company
Word origin
ME & OFr compaignie < VL compania, lit., group sharing bread: see companion1
Examples of 'company' in a sentence
company
You have a positive attitude that makes you good company.
The Sun (2017)
What business benefits can companies expect from these solutions?
Computing (2010)
The brand was one of the first established beauty companies to work with bloggers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Most companies regard two times earnings as a robust enough cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Selling all our manufacturing business to foreign companies is coming back to haunt us.
The Sun (2016)
People apply for companies they recognise.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What he meant was that larger companies find it much harder than smaller ones to grow their earnings at a significant pace.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is true that too few British companies succeed abroad.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I am sure a big company would have paid a lot for that slot.
The Sun (2016)
Increasing prices on delivery menus is perfectly legal but consumer groups say that companies such as Deliveroo should be more transparent.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
None is big enough to destabilise the company or relevant business section if it does not.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Target companies and people you want to work for.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He announced that he would be all right in our company.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
When will we be able to trust any of these big companies?
The Sun (2014)
The firm confirmed yesterday it is mulling over whether to divide into two companies.
The Sun (2008)
It has backed the advertising company for four years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is often the biggest companies with the largest resources who do the most copying.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is because mining companies usually have a high proportion of fixed costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The company needs to fund a huge building programme.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We use them as an example to show other parts of the company what can be done.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why have smaller companies funds done so well?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why would any company want to keep its final salary scheme?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People in the company have sought him out for help and advice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That made early participants invite their friends and encouraged companies and groups of charity fundraisers to take part.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Would you support banning former civil servants and military officers from working for lobbying companies for a fixed period?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He thinks that experience has helped him to run the company through the good times as well as the bad.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It would be easy to dismiss this as just another exercise in big companies slapping one another on the back.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It comes as little surprise he has decided to throw his hat into the ring to rescue the company he founded.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There were two takeover bids tabled this week for British companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The 30-minute parade took the four companies of the battalion through the historic city.
The Sun (2009)
Yet the 30-year-old mainly blames fear and paralysis for keeping companies from doing good.
Christianity Today (2000)
The holding company will report the accounting results of these subsidiary companies as part of the accounting results for the group of companies.
Pass, Christopher, Lowes, Bryan Collins Dictionary of Economics (1993)
Why is it the company's business anyway?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The company won't provide further details until next week.
The Sun (2011)
His case goes to show how much power big companies have to make our lives difficult if you do not follow their terms and conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
Every man is like the company he is wont to keepEuripidesPhoenix
A wise man may look ridiculous in the company of foolsThomas FullerGnomologia
Tell me thy company, and I'll tell thee what thou artMiguel de CervantesDon Quixote
A man is known by the company he keeps
Two is company, three's a crowd
In other languages
company
British English: company /ˈkʌmpənɪ/ NOUN
business A company is a business organization that makes money by selling goods or services.
...an insurance company.
American English: company
Arabic: شَرِكَة
Brazilian Portuguese: empresa
Chinese: 公司
Croatian: kompanija
Czech: společnost firma
Danish: selskab
Dutch: bedrijf
European Spanish: empresa
Finnish: yritys firma
French: compagnie
German: Firma
Greek: εταιρεία
Italian: società
Japanese: 会社
Korean: 회사
Norwegian: bedrift
Polish: spółka
European Portuguese: empresa
Romanian: companie
Russian: компания
Latin American Spanish: compañía
Swedish: sällskap
Thai: บริษัท
Turkish: şirket
Ukrainian: компанія
Vietnamese: công ty
British English: company NOUN
companionshipCompany is having another person or other people with you, usually when this is pleasant or stops you feeling lonely.
I won't stay long.—"No, please. I need the company."
American English: company
Brazilian Portuguese: companhia
Chinese: 陪伴
European Spanish: compañía
French: compagnie
German: Gesellschaft
Italian: compagnia
Japanese: 一緒に過ごすこと
Korean: 친구
European Portuguese: companhia
Latin American Spanish: compañía
All related terms of 'company'
and company
You can say and company after mentioning a person's name, to refer also to the people who are associated with that person.
company car
A company car is a car which an employer gives to an employee to use as their own, usually as a benefit of having a particular job , or because their job involves a lot of travelling .
company law
the area of law that deals with business enterprises
company man
an employee who puts allegiance to the company for which he works above personal opinion or friendship
in company
When you are in company , you are with a person or group of people.
City Company
(in Britain) a corporation that represents one of the historic trade guilds of London
close company
a company under the control of its directors or fewer than five independent participants
company time
the regular hours during which employees are expected to work
company town
a town built by a company for its employees
company union
an unaffiliated union of workers usually restricted to a single business enterprise
dance company
a group of dancers, usually including business and technical personnel
ferry company
a company that operates a ferry or ferries
film company
a company dedicated to the making of motion pictures
fire company
an insurance company selling policies relating to fire risk
free company
a band of mercenary soldiers during the Middle Ages
have company
If you have company , you have a visitor or friend with you.
hire company
a company that hires things out to people
keep company
If you keep company with a person or with a particular kind of person, you spend a lot of time with them.
opera company
a company that puts on productions of operas
part company
to end a friendship or association , esp as a result of a quarrel ; separate
shell company
A shell company is a company that another company takes over in order to use its name to gain an advantage .
stock company
a business enterprise the capital of which is divided into transferable shares
tour company
→ another name for tour operator
trust company
a commercial bank or other enterprise organized to perform trustee functions
bubble company
a company whose shares are highly valued and then plummet
closed company
a company under the control of its directors or fewer than five independent participants
company doctor
a businessperson or accountant who specializes in turning ailing companies into profitable enterprises
company manners
rules of politeness that people, esp children, are supposed to observe in the presence of other people
company officer
a captain or lieutenant serving in a company
company pension
a pension scheme run by a company for its employees
energy company
a company that produces energy , such as electricity
express company
to transform ( ideas ) into words; utter ; verbalize
finance company
A finance company is a business which lends money to people and charges them interest while they pay it back.
haulage company
a firm that transports goods by lorry
holding company
A holding company is a company that has enough shares in one or more other companies to be able to control the other companies.
limited company
a company whose owners enjoy limited liability for the company's debts and losses
listed company
A listed company is a company whose shares are quoted on a stock exchange.
livery company
one of the chartered companies of the City of London originating from the craft guilds
logging company
a company that fells trees and sells timber
parent company
a company that owns more than half the shares of another company
polite company
You can refer to people who consider themselves to be socially superior and to set standards of behaviour for everyone else as polite society or polite company.
private company
a limited company that does not issue shares for public subscription and whose owners do not enjoy an unrestricted right to transfer their shareholdings
public company
A public company is a company whose shares can be bought by the general public.
quoted company
a company whose shares are quoted on a stock exchange
record company
a commercial organization that makes and sells musical recordings
ship's company
the crew of a ship including the officers
theatre company
an organization that produces theatrical performances
trading company
a company that is owned by the people who have bought shares in that company
utility company
a company which supplies utilities , such as gas , electricity , phones , etc
associated company
a company which is largely controlled by its parent company because the latter owns anything up to 50% of the shares
Chinese translation of 'company'
company
(ˈkʌmpənɪ)
n
(c) (= firm) 公司 (gōngsī) (个(個), gè)
(c) (Theat) 剧(劇)团(團) (jùtuán) (个(個), gè)
(c) (Mil) 连(連) (lián)
(u) (= companionship) 交往 (jiāowǎng)
Smith and Company史密斯公司 (Shǐmìsī gōngsī)
he's good company他是个(個)好伙(夥)伴 (tā shì gè hǎo huǒbàn)
we have company我们(們)有客人 (wǒmen yǒu kèrén)
to keep sb company陪伴某人 (péibàn mǒurén)
to part company (with sb) (when walking etc) (与(與)某人)分手 ((yǔ mǒurén) fēnshǒu) (in work, relationship) (与(與)某人)断(斷)绝(絕)联(聯)系(繫) ((yǔ mǒurén) duànjué liánxì)
Seecounty
All related terms of 'company'
Co.
company 公司 gōngsī
company car
单(單)位公车(車) dānwèi gōngchē
public company
上市公司 shàngshì gōngsī [ 家 jiā ]
company director
公司董事 gōngsī dǒngshì [ 位 wèi ]
we have company
我们(們)有客人 wǒmen yǒu kèrén
he's good company
他是个(個)好伙(夥)伴 tā shì gè hǎo huǒbàn
Smith and Company
史密斯公司 Shǐmìsī gōngsī
criminal/company law
刑/公司法 xíng/gōngsī fǎ
public limited company
上市有限公司 shàngshì yǒuxiàn gōngsī [ 家 jiā ]
to keep sb company
陪伴某人 péibàn mǒurén
Ltd
limited company 股份有限公司 gǔfèn yǒuxiàn gōngsī
it's much the biggest publishing company in Europe
它是欧(歐)洲最大的出版公司 tā shì Ōuzhōu zuì dà de chūbǎn gōngsī
Mr and Mrs X request the pleasure of your company ...
( frm ) X先生和夫人敬请(請)您的大驾(駕)光临(臨) ... X xiānsheng hé fūrén jìng qǐng nín de dàjià guānglín ...
plc
public limited company 股票上市公司 gǔpiào shàngshì gōngsī
NBC
National Broadcasting Company 国(國)家广(廣)播公司 Guójiā Guǎngbō Gōngsī
to part company (with sb)
( when walking etc ) (与(與)某人)分手 (yǔ mǒurén) fēnshǒu
1 (noun)
Definition
a business organization
She worked in an insurance company.
Synonyms
business
The company was a family business.
firm
The firm's employees were expecting large bonuses.
association
the British Olympic Association
corporation
chairperson of a huge multi-national corporation
partnership
As the partnership prospered, the employees shared in the benefits.
establishment
Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed today.
syndicate
They formed a syndicate to buy the car.
house
the world's top fashion houses
concern
If not a large concern, his business was at least a successful one.
2 (noun)
Definition
a number of people gathered together
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
Synonyms
group
a small group of football supporters
troupe
a troupe of travelling actors
set
the popular watering hole for the literary set
community
a comment echoed by most of the scientific community
league
the League of Nations
band
bands of government soldiers
crowd
It took some two hours before the crowd was fully dispersed.
camp
Voters have not yet moved en masse to the Conservative camp.
collection
A collection of people of all ages assembled to pay their respects.
gathering
He spoke today before a large gathering of world leaders.
circle
a small circle of friends
crew (informal)
a motley crew of college friends
assembly
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
convention
ensemble
an ensemble of young musicians
throng
coterie
The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers.
bevy
a bevy of reporters
assemblage
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
party
opposing political parties
body
the police representative body
3 (noun)
Definition
a small unit of troops
The division consists of two tank companies and one infantry company.
Synonyms
troop
She was aware of a little troop of travellers watching them.
unit
a secret military unit
squad
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
team
Mr Hunter and his management team
4 (noun)
Definition
the fact of being with someone
I would be grateful for your company on the drive back.
Synonyms
companionship
He missed the companionship of friends of his own age.
society (old-fashioned)
I largely withdrew from the society of others.
presence
His presence in the village could only stir up trouble.
the presence of a carcinogen in the water
fellowship
a sense of community and fellowship
5 (noun)
Definition
a guest or guests
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you had company.
Synonyms
guests
party
a party of explorers
visitors
callers
Quotations
Every man is like the company he is wont to keep [Euripides – Phoenix]A wise man may look ridiculous in the company of fools [Thomas Fuller – Gnomologia]Tell me thy company, and I'll tell thee what thou art [Miguel de Cervantes – Don Quixote]
proverbs
A man is known by the company he keepsTwo is company, three's a crowd
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assemblage
Definition
a collection or group of things
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
Synonyms
group,
company,
meeting,
body,
crowd,
collection,
mass,
gathering,
rally,
assembly,
flock,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
hui (New Zealand),
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of assembly
Definition
a number of people gathered together for a meeting