closely held

adjective

: having most stock shares and voting rights in the hands of a few
a closely held business

Examples of closely held in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Conferring with Duffy via shoe-phone, Reacher complains that all details of Beck’s operation are closely held at the upper levels. Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 The identities of the members of Mr. Musk’s team, too, have been closely held. Zach Montague, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 DirecTV is in talks to control the combined entity, which will be closely held, the people said. Michelle F. Davis, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024 Vaughn says that details about the films have been closely held, until now. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for closely held

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of closely held was in 1946

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Cite this Entry

“Closely held.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closely%20held. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

closely held

adjective
close·​ly held
ˈklōs-lē-ˈheld
: having most stock shares and corporate voting rights in the hands of a few shareholders
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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