company

- definition

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

noun

/ˈkʌmpəni/

singular	company
plural	companies

Related dictionary definitions

more dictionary definitions

See also
Word sets

1
[countable] an organization that provides services, or that makes or sells goods for money
Max works for a large oil company.
He joined the company in 1982.
a local/multinational company
and Company (=used in company names):
Johnson and Company
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
1. a.
  [only before noun] connected with a company or with the people in a company
  It’s company policy.
  We can’t all be company directors.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
2
[countable] theater a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together
the Royal Shakespeare Company
a dance/theater company
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
1. a.
  a group of soldiers that is usually divided into two or more smaller groups called platoons
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
2. b.
  the people who work on a particular ship
  the ship’s company
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
3
[uncountable] people you are with
mixed company (=a group that includes men and women):
Some of the jokes weren’t really suitable for mixed company.
bad company (=friends that other people do not approve of):
Things started to go wrong when he got into bad company.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
1. a.
  a guest or guests
  She’s not coming – she has company.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
2. b.
  the activity of being with other people
  I thought you might be glad of some company tonight.
  She doesn’t really feel like company at the moment.
  the company of someone:
  She’s always liked the company of powerful people.
  someone’s company:
  We usually enjoy his company.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
See also polite company

phrases

and company
informal
used after someone’s name for referring to the people they are connected with or usually spend time with
We need another table for Bruce Reed and company.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
the company someone keeps
the people that someone spends time with
We didn’t like the company she was keeping.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
be good company
someone who people enjoy spending time with
Jane is such good company.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
in company
British
with other people
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
in company with
formal
together with someone or something else
Germany, in company with France, refused to lift the ban.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
in good company
doing the same thing someone else has done, especially someone who is important or respected. This expression is used especially for telling someone not to worry about something bad they have done
If you’ve put on weight during the holidays, you’re in good company.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
join company with
formal
to become involved in something that someone else is doing
Nurses’ unions have joined company with the teachers in protesting at the policy.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
keep someone company
to spend time with someone so that they will not feel lonely
Would you like me to stay and keep you company?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
keep company with someone
to spend time with someone
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
part company
1. 1
  to end a relationship, for example a marriage
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
2. 2
  to stop traveling or spending time together and go to different places
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
3. 3
  to disagree about a particular subject
  This is where I part company with the professor.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company
two’s company, three’s a crowd
used for saying that two people, especially people having a romantic relationship, would prefer to be alone rather than with other people
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of company

See also

present

Word sets: company

business a company that makes or sells goods or provides a service, especially one owned and run by one person or a small group of people: She left to start her own catering business. ♦ He sold the business that his father and grandfather had built up.

firm a company, especially one providing professional or financial services: a large New York law firm ♦ a firm of architects/management consultants

cooperative a company that is owned and run by all the people who work for it: an organic food cooperative

corporation a large company that employs a lot of people: Some of the Hollywood studios were bought by big Japanese corporations.

multinational a large company that operates in many different countries: The fund invests mainly in U.S. multinationals. ♦ an advertising agency with several multinational clients, including Coca-Cola

subsidiary a company that is owned by a larger company: Electronics giant Panasonic is a subsidiary of Matsushita.

conglomerate a large company made up of several smaller companies that often has a wide range of business activities: one of the world’s largest media conglomerates, with interests in television, magazines, books, and the Internet

This is the American English definition of company. View British English definition of company.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

BuzzWord Article

More BuzzWords

BuzzWord archive

Word of the Day

simile

a phrase that describes something by comparing it to something else using the word...

Word of the Day

Open Dictionary

conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

add a word

More submissions

view entries

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog

Did you know?

company

What are red words?

Thesaurus

Related dictionary definitions

phrases

and company

the company someone keeps

be good company

in company

in company with

in good company

join company with

keep someone company

keep company with someone

part company

two’s company, three’s a crowd

vocal fry

Word of the Day

simile

conflict mineral