Noun A2 — Elementary /ˈkʌm.pə.ni/

Company — Definition, Examples & Usage

A business, a group of people, or simply the pleasure of good company — one of English's most versatile nouns.

Quick Definition

Company (noun) — 1. A business organisation that makes, sells, or provides something. 2. The presence or companionship of other people. 3. A group of people with a shared purpose (e.g. a theatre company, a company of soldiers).

What Does Company Mean?

Company entered English in the 13th century from Old French compagnie, itself from Medieval Latin compania — a combination of com- (together) and panis (bread). The original sense was a group of companions who share a meal. This gives the word a warmth that survives in its social meaning today: to keep someone company is to be present with them, not to do business.

By the 16th century, organised groups of merchants began calling themselves companies, giving rise to the commercial meaning. Today this is by far the most frequent sense in written English. The third meaning — a distinct named group such as a theatre company or military company — sits between the two, describing a formal body of people united by a common role.

All three meanings share the core idea of people being together. Understanding which sense is intended requires attention to context: business news uses the commercial sense; personal writing and conversation most often use the social sense.

Example Sentences

Level Sentence Usage note
A2 She works for a large technology company in London. business sense — core meaning
B1 He started his own company after leaving university. start + company collocation
B1 I stayed with her to keep her company while she waited. social sense — keep company phrase
B2 The company's annual report revealed a significant drop in profits. company as subject; business context
C1 In the company of such distinguished scholars, she felt acutely aware of her own inexperience. in the company of — formal social phrase

Collocations

Collocation Example
start / set up a company They set up a company to sell handmade furniture online.
run / manage a company She has run the company for over a decade.
join a company He joined the company straight after finishing his degree.
leave / quit a company Many employees left the company when the restructuring began.
large / small company Working for a small company means you take on more responsibility.
private / public company The private company was floated on the stock exchange last year.
parent company The parent company owns several well-known consumer brands.
keep someone company I kept him company on the long drive to Edinburgh.
in good company If you find grammar confusing, you are in good company.
company policy It is against company policy to use personal devices at work.

Usage Notes

When company means a business, it is countable and takes a plural: companies. It can be used with the definite article (the company) or possessively (the company's profits). In British English it is common to treat the company as a plural noun when referring to its people: "The company have announced…" — this is called notional agreement and is standard in British English, though less common in American English.

When company means companionship or social presence, it is uncountable and takes no article: "I enjoy good company", "in the company of friends". Do not use the plural companies in this sense.

The phrase keep someone company is fixed — you cannot say "make someone company" or "give someone company". Similarly, in good company is an idiom meaning "not alone in your situation" and should be learned as a chunk.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

I work in a company that produce software. (wrong verb agreement — singular company needs singular verb)

I work for a company that produces software.

She gave me a lot of company last night. (wrong verb — give is not used with company)

She kept me company last night.

The companys profits rose last year. (wrong possessive — add apostrophe before s)

The company's profits rose last year.

I work in a company. (wrong preposition — use for, not in, for employment)

I work for a company. (British English standard for employment)

Related Words

firm business corporation enterprise organisation companionship companion accompany accompaniment

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “company”

What does company mean in English?
Company has three main meanings in English. First, it refers to a business or commercial organisation: 'She works for a technology company.' Second, it means the presence of other people: 'I enjoy your company.' Third, it can refer to a group or ensemble, for example 'a theatre company' or 'a company of soldiers'.
How do you use company in a sentence?
Use company as a countable noun for businesses ('The company was founded in 1998') or as an uncountable noun for the idea of social presence ('I enjoy good company'). With the business meaning it takes the definite article: 'the company announced record profits'. With the social meaning it often appears after 'in' or 'keep': 'in good company', 'keep someone company'.
Is company countable or uncountable?
Company is countable when referring to a business organisation ('three companies bid for the contract') and uncountable when referring to the presence of people or social companionship ('I enjoy her company', 'in good company'). The plural companies is used only for the business sense.
What is the difference between company and firm?
Both company and firm refer to a business organisation, but firm is often used for professional services such as law firms and accountancy firms, while company is broader and can describe any commercial enterprise. In British English, firm can also sound slightly more informal or traditional.
What are common collocations with company?
Common collocations include: start/set up/run/join/leave a company; a large/small/private/public/listed company; keep someone company; in good company; company policy; company car; parent company; sister company; holding company. Many of these appear frequently in business English.
What does 'keep someone company' mean?
To keep someone company means to stay with them so that they do not feel alone: 'I kept her company while she waited for the results.' It is a very common informal phrase and does not involve a business meaning.
What is the origin of the word company?
Company comes from the Old French word 'compagnie', derived from the Latin 'com-' (together) and 'panis' (bread) — meaning people who share bread together. It entered English in the 13th century with the sense of a group of companions, and the business sense developed later as organised commercial groups grew in importance.
What is the adjective form of company?
Company does not have a common adjective form. Instead, it is used as a noun modifier: company car, company policy, company culture. The related adjective 'companionable' means friendly and pleasant to be with, though it is formal and less common.
What is the difference between company and corporation?
A company is a general term for any business organisation. A corporation is a specific legal structure — typically a large company that is incorporated and has shareholders. In the UK, limited companies (Ltd) are common, while large publicly traded businesses may be public limited companies (PLC). In US English, 'corporation' (Inc.) is the typical large business structure.
How can I practise the word company in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise company in context across all three meanings, or use the Flash Cards tool to review business vocabulary including company and its key collocations. Studying business news articles is also an excellent way to see the word used naturally at B2 and C1 level.