annual general meeting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Legal, Corporate Governance
Quick answer
What does “annual general meeting” mean?
A mandatory yearly meeting of a company's shareholders, where directors present financial reports and key decisions are voted on.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mandatory yearly meeting of a company's shareholders, where directors present financial reports and key decisions are voted on.
A formal, legally required gathering of an organization's members (e.g., shareholders of a company, members of a society or club) held once per year to review the past year's activities, approve financial statements, elect directors or officers, and address other significant governance matters.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both varieties. The abbreviation 'AGM' is slightly more common in UK English, while US English may also use 'annual meeting' or 'annual shareholder meeting' with equal frequency.
Connotations
Identical connotations of corporate formality and legal duty in both regions.
Frequency
High frequency in business and legal contexts in both the UK and US. 'Annual meeting' is a common synonym in US corporate law.
Grammar
How to Use “annual general meeting” in a Sentence
The [Company] held its AGM on [Date].[Shareholders] voted on [Issue] at the AGM.The [Report] was presented at the annual general meeting.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “annual general meeting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company is required to AGM every year. (Informal/rare, from abbreviation)
- We will be AGM-ing in May. (Very informal/jargon)
American English
- The corporation must hold its annual meeting. (No verb form is standard)
- They are meeting annually as required by the bylaws.
adverb
British English
- The directors presented the report AGM-style. (Informal/non-standard)
- The matter was dealt with annually at the general meeting.
American English
- The vote was conducted in an annual-meeting fashion. (Non-standard)
- The financials are reviewed yearly at the general meeting.
adjective
British English
- The AGM notice was sent out last week.
- She reviewed the annual general meeting papers.
American English
- The annual-meeting proxy materials arrived.
- He prepared the annual general meeting report.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board will present the audited accounts at the next annual general meeting.
Academic
The study analysed proxy voting patterns at FTSE 100 annual general meetings.
Everyday
I have to go into the city on Tuesday for my investment club's annual general meeting.
Technical
Pursuant to Section 336 of the Companies Act 2006, a public company must hold an annual general meeting within six months of its financial year-end.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “annual general meeting”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “annual general meeting”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “annual general meeting”
- Incorrect: 'annual generally meeting'. Correct: 'annual general meeting'.
- Incorrect use of plural: 'annuals general meetings'. Correct: 'annual general meetings'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A board meeting is for directors only. An AGM is for shareholders/members, and directors report *to* them.
While all shareholders/members have the right to attend, typically the Chair, key directors, and the company secretary must be present to conduct the formal business.
Yes, many jurisdictions now allow fully virtual or hybrid AGMs, but the company's articles of association and local law must permit it.
It is a breach of corporate law (e.g., the UK Companies Act or US state laws). The company and its officers can face fines, and shareholders can apply to a court to compel one.
A mandatory yearly meeting of a company's shareholders, where directors present financial reports and key decisions are voted on.
Annual general meeting is usually formal, business, legal, corporate governance in register.
Annual general meeting: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.ju.əl ˈdʒen.ər.əl ˈmiː.tɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.ju.əl ˈdʒen.ər.əl ˈmiː.t̬ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the agenda at the AGM”
- “A point of order at the AGM”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think AGM: A General Must-do. It's a general meeting that a company must do annually.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COMPANY IS A STATE: The AGM is the 'annual parliament' where the citizen-shareholders hold the government-directors to account.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of an Annual General Meeting (AGM)?