holder

noun

hold·​er ˈhōl-dər 

1

: a person that holds: such as

a(1)

: owner

(2)

: tenant

b

: a person in possession of and legally entitled to receive payment of a bill, note, or check

2

: a device that holds

a cigarette holder

Synonyms

• owner
• possessor
• proprietor

Examples of holder in a Sentence

She is the holder of an honorary degree.

the holder of a world record

Recent Examples on the Web

When major holders began exiting, the already thin order books couldn’t absorb the sudden wave of sell orders, triggering cascading liquidations across exchanges and accelerating OM’s collapse. —Alice Liu, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Khalil, a green card holder and permanent legal resident who is married to an American citizen, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at his Columbia housing in March after helping lead protests at Columbia over the war in Gaza. —Laura Romero, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025

Permit holders for animal grazing, oil and gas leases, logging and mining activities will also be affected. —Mike Dombeck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025

However, Daniels said that contract was signed by the conferences, Notre Dame and BCS Properties LLC—a legacy entity originally formed to manage the Bowl Championship Series media rights and that continues to serve as the intellectual property rights holder for the CFP brand. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing holder

• co-holder
• holder in due course
• pot holder
• record holder
• slave holder

Rhymes for holder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder
• bondholder

Kids Definition

holder

noun

hold·​er ˈhōl-dər 

1

: a person that holds

especially : a legal owner

2

: a device that holds

Legal Definition

holder

noun

hold·​er

1

: a person that holds: as

a

: owner

the holder of a patent

—often used in combination

a stockholder

b

: one that holds or occupies the property of another by agreement and especially under a lease

2

a

: a person who under the Uniform Commercial Code is in possession of a negotiable instrument that names and is made payable to the possessor or that is payable to bearer

b

: a person under the Uniform Commercial Code in possession of goods named in a document of title if the goods are deliverable to bearer or to the order of the possessor

3

in the civil law of Louisiana : an individual (as a trustee or debtor) or legal or commercial entity that under the Civil Code's provisions for disposition of unclaimed property is in possession of property belonging to another