corporation

[ kawr-puh-rey-shuh n ]
/ ˌkɔr pəˈreɪ ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR corporation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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. See also municipal corporation, public corporation.
(initial capital letter) the group of principal officials of a borough or other municipal division in England.
any group of persons united or regarded as united in one body.
Informal. a paunch; potbelly.

Origin of corporation

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin corporātiōn- (stem of corporātiō) ‘guild’, Latin: ‘physical makeup, build’. See corporate, -ion

usage note for corporation

See collective noun.

OTHER WORDS FROM corporation

Words nearby corporation

corporate raider, corporate restructuring, corporate venturing, corporate village, corporate welfare, corporation, corporation stop, corporation tax, corporatism, corporative, corporatize

Words related to corporation

business, company, partnership, society, enterprise, association, clan, shell, zoo, crowd, hookup, jungle, crew, gang, syndicate, mob, ring, outfit, bunch, octopus

Example sentences from the Web for corporation

British Dictionary definitions for corporation

corporation
/ (ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃən) /

noun

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

Cultural definitions for corporation

corporation

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.