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stakeholder
/ˈsteɪkˌhoʊldər/
person with an interest in a project
The company held a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss the new policy.
The meeting included everyone affected by or involved in the policy decision.
Business
formal
A person, group, or organization with a legitimate interest in a project, business, or decision.
Investors, employees, and customers are key stakeholders in the company's success.
Each group plays a role in the company's outcomes and has a vested interest.
The environmental group was invited as a stakeholder to review the construction project.
Their input was considered essential to address community concerns.
Stakeholders can be internal (e.g., employees) or external (e.g., suppliers, regulators).
Law
Law
A person who holds money or property in trust for another.
The court appointed a stakeholder to manage the disputed funds.
The stakeholder ensured fair distribution according to legal procedures.
Less common in modern usage; often replaced by terms like 'trustee' or 'escrow agent'.
Collocations
key stakeholdermost important person/group with an intereststakeholder engagementactively involving stakeholders in decisionsprimary stakeholdermain group directly affected by outcomes
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 'shareholder'
'Stakeholder' is broader than 'shareholder'—it includes anyone affected by a decision, not just owners of company shares.
Gold Rule
Identify stakeholders early
In project planning, list all stakeholders (e.g., clients, regulators, employees) to ensure their needs are addressed.
Word Origin
From 'stake' (a share or interest in a business) + 'holder' (one who holds). The 'stake' originally referred to a financial investment in a venture, where the holder's money was at risk.
Usage Notes
Common in business, project management, and corporate governance. Avoid using for people with no real interest in the outcome.
Word Breakdown
stake
a share or interest in something
rootholder
one who holds or possesses something
suffixEnglish Dictionary