company
HighFormal and informal
Definition
Meaning
A commercial business organization; the state of being with someone.
A group of people assembled for a social purpose; companionship; a military unit; a guest or guests in a home.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word exists in a continuum between organizational entity and social presence, with different prepositions marking different senses ('in company with', 'work for a company').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'company' often appears in formal titles as 'and Company' (e.g., 'Smith and Company'), while US usage more frequently uses '& Co.'. 'Company' for a military unit is slightly more common in UK English.
Connotations
Both varieties share core meanings, but 'company' in the social sense ('I enjoy your company') may be perceived as slightly more formal/old-fashioned in American English.
Frequency
The business sense dominates frequency in both varieties, with the social sense being moderately common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keep [someone] companyform/start/establish a companywork for a companybe in company withVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “two's company, three's a crowd”
- “keep bad company”
- “part company (with)”
- “in good company”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a legal entity engaged in commerce. E.g., 'The company reported record profits this quarter.'
Academic
Used in economics, business studies, and sociology to discuss organizational structures and labour.
Everyday
Commonly used for both businesses and social situations. E.g., 'We had company over for dinner.'
Technical
In law, a specific type of legal person (e.g., limited company); in military, a subunit of a battalion.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She will company him to the event, as is the custom.
American English
- He agreed to company her on the long drive home.
adjective
British English
- The company director signed the new policy.
American English
- She received a company phone for work calls.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I work for a big company.
- She likes the company of her friends.
- The company is planning to open a new office in Manchester.
- We're having company for dinner tonight, so I need to cook more.
- After years of service, he decided to part company with his employer.
- The theatre company's production received critical acclaim.
- The holding company divested itself of several underperforming subsidiaries.
- His erudition and wit made him excellent company at the symposium.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'company' as 'com-' (together) + 'panis' (bread) from Latin – people you break bread with, either in business or socially.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPANY IS A CONTAINER (for people/resources); COMPANY IS A PERSON (can act, be sued, have goals).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'company' (social) as 'компания' in contexts where 'общество' or 'присутствие' is more accurate (e.g., 'I enjoy your company').
- The Russian 'компания' often corresponds to the business sense, but be careful with set phrases like 'limited company' ('общество с ограниченной ответственностью').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a company' as an uncountable noun (*'I work for company').
- Confusing 'company' with 'companion' (a person).
- Using wrong prepositions: 'in the company' vs. 'in company with'.
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'two's company, three's a crowd', what does 'company' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. As a business/organisation, it's countable (a company, two companies). In the social sense of 'companionship', it's usually uncountable ('I enjoy your company').
'Firm' often suggests a partnership (e.g., law firm) and can feel smaller or more professional-service oriented. 'Company' is a broader, more general term for any business entity.
Yes, but it is archaic and very rare in modern English. It means 'to accompany someone'.
It's a business structure where the owners' liability is limited to their investment. In the UK, it's abbreviated as 'Ltd'; in the US, similar structures are 'Inc.' or 'LLC'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Work and Jobs
A2 · 49 words · Jobs, professions and the world of work.
Business Vocabulary
B1 · 50 words · Fundamental language of commerce and trade.
Workplace Vocabulary
B1 · 48 words · Professional language for the working environment.