Individuals or entities that own shares or stock in a corporation, giving them partial ownership and certain rights.
Compound of 'share' from Old English 'scearu' meaning division or portion, and 'holder' from 'hold'. The term emerged with the development of joint-stock companies in the 17th century.
The concept of shareholding revolutionized capitalism by allowing ordinary people to own pieces of large enterprises. The East India Company, founded in 1600, was among the first to sell shares to the public, essentially inventing modern corporate ownership.
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