Definition company in American English

Talking or writing about companies

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