crown corporation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency; specialized term)Formal, legal, governmental, economic, administrative.
Quick answer
What does “crown corporation” mean?
A company or enterprise that is owned by the national government but operates independently to perform commercial functions on the state's behalf.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A company or enterprise that is owned by the national government but operates independently to perform commercial functions on the state's behalf.
A legal entity established by legislation to undertake business activities for public policy objectives, with varying degrees of operational and financial autonomy from direct government control. It often holds a monopoly or operates in strategic sectors like transport, energy, or broadcasting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is predominantly Canadian and Commonwealth (UK, Australia, NZ) usage. In the United States, the equivalent terms are 'government-owned corporation', 'state-owned enterprise (SOE)', or 'federal corporation'.
Connotations
In Commonwealth contexts, it carries formal, institutional, and legal connotations. In the US, using 'crown corporation' would be marked as foreign or specifically referring to a Commonwealth entity.
Frequency
Frequent in Canadian, UK, and Australian official discourse; virtually absent in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “crown corporation” in a Sentence
[Crown corporation] + [verb: operates, manages, reports] + [object/complement]The government + [verb: created, sold, oversees] + [crown corporation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown corporation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The act allows the minister to crown-corporatise the service.
- They are considering crown-corporatising the postal network.
American English
- The agency was corporatized by the federal government.
- There is a push to commercialize the public asset.
adverb
British English
- The entity was run crown-corporation style.
- It was managed somewhat crown-corporationally.
American English
- The facility operates in a corporatized manner.
- It functions quasi-commercially.
adjective
British English
- The crown-corporation model is under review.
- He has extensive crown-corporation experience.
American English
- The government-corporation status was confirmed.
- It's a state-owned-enterprise structure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in contexts of privatization, public-private partnerships, and market competition.
Academic
Used in political science, public administration, and economics papers on state capitalism and public enterprise.
Everyday
Rarely used outside news about government policy, sales, or scandals involving such entities.
Technical
Precise legal term in statutes defining its incorporation, reporting lines, and financial relationship to the treasury.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown corporation”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown corporation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown corporation”
- Using 'crown corporation' to refer to any large, prestigious private company (e.g., 'Rolex is a crown corporation').
- Incorrect pluralization: 'crowns corporations' instead of 'crown corporations'.
- Confusing it with 'The Crown' as a purely judicial or ceremonial entity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A government department is directly integrated into the ministerial structure, while a crown corporation operates with greater commercial independence, often with its own board and separate accounts.
Yes, in principle, as it is a separate legal entity. However, in practice, governments often step in to support strategically important crown corporations to prevent their failure.
Typically not. They are employees of the corporation itself, though their pension plans and some employment terms may be aligned with or distinct from the core public service.
A crown corporation is owned by the state. A privatized company was previously state-owned but has been sold to private shareholders and is no longer under direct government control.
A company or enterprise that is owned by the national government but operates independently to perform commercial functions on the state's behalf.
Crown corporation is usually formal, legal, governmental, economic, administrative. in register.
Crown corporation: in British English it is pronounced /kraʊn ˌkɔːp.əˈreɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /kraʊn ˌkɔːr.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A jewel in the crown (figuratively, a particularly successful or prized asset, but not specific to crown corporations)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CROWN on a king's head representing the state, and a CORPORATION as a business. A crown corporation is a 'king's business' owned by the state.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS AN OWNER / GOVERNMENT IS A BUSINESS OPERATOR.
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'crown corporation' most commonly and officially used?