B2noun2K

Corporation

UK /["/ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃn/"]/US /["/ˌkɔːrpəˈreɪʃn/"]/

Definition

a large business company

In simple words: A large company or business that is owned by many people.

Examples

  • multinational corporations
  • the Chrysler corporation
  • urban development corporations
  • the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London

Usage notes

Use 'corporation' in business contexts. It's suitable for formal writing but may be avoided in casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'corps' (like in military) – big, organized groups just like big businesses.

Collocations

  • big
  • giant
  • huge
  • tax
  • big
  • giant
  • huge
  • tax

Synonyms

  • company
  • firm
  • enterprise
  • business
  • organization

Antonyms

  • individual
  • sole proprietorship
  • partnership

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'corporation' with 'company' - a corporation is a specific type of company.
  • Using 'corporations' as an uncountable noun - it is countable.
  • Overusing terms like 'big business' instead of using 'corporation' in formal contexts.