stakeholder

Everyday

1. (formal) A stakeholder is a person or group who is affected by something, such as a plan or a business, and so cares how it turns out. tree →
2. (business, money) Someone who owns a share in a company or has money in it. tree →
3. (old use) A person who holds the money that people have bet, until the winner is known. tree →

In the lessons

In school and business talk «stakeholders» are everyone with an interest: pupils, parents and teachers are the stakeholders of a school. It is a stiff, office or exam word. Phrases: «key stakeholders», «consult the stakeholders», «all stakeholders».

Examples

• Parents, pupils and teachers are all stakeholders in the school. tree →
• The council talked to local stakeholders before building the park. tree →
• A shop's stakeholders include its workers, customers and owners. tree →
• The report was sent to every stakeholder. tree →
• Farmers are big stakeholders in decisions about water. tree →
• Our project plan lists the stakeholders and what each one wants. tree →
• The company must listen to its stakeholders, not only its bosses. tree →

Note

Countable, formal and business-like; in plain speech say «people who care about it» or «people affected». Often in the plural. Not the same as a shareholder (who owns shares), though shareholders are one kind of stakeholder.