stakeholder

noun

stake·​hold·​er ˈstāk-ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce stakeholder (audio)
1
: a person entrusted with the stakes of bettors
2
: one that has a stake in an enterprise
3
: one who is involved in or affected by a course of action
stakeholding
ˈstāk-ˌhōl-diŋ How to pronounce stakeholder (audio)
noun

Examples of stakeholder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Obviously, the risk of default is something that should concern all stakeholders because equity value will generally be demolished long before any default actually happens. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 Visitors can learn about more than a year of community outreach and meetings with stakeholders. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 To try and push this forward, the stakeholders of the AEA are meeting with the people who helped to draft the recent bill introduced that would create a federal tax credit for films produced in the United States. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 At Wednesday’s hearing, Dwayne Jones, LA28’s senior vice president for the Cultural Olympiad and stakeholder events, did not disclose a precise cultural budget or how much funding had been secured. — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stakeholder

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stakeholder was in 1708

Rhymes for stakeholder

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Browse Nearby Words

stake driver
stakeholder
stake horse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stakeholder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stakeholder. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

stakeholder

noun
stake·​hold·​er ˈstāk-ˌhōl-dər How to pronounce stakeholder (audio)
1
: a person holding property or owing an obligation that is claimed by two or more adverse claimants and who has no claim to or interest in the property or obligation
2
: a person having an interest or share in a commercial undertaking

More from Merriam-Webster on stakeholder

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stakeholder

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