holder

Holder is a noun with several related meanings. In general use, a holder denotes a person or thing that holds something else, whether physically or conceptually. This includes containers or components designed to store items or secure parts, such as a pen holder, cup holder, candle holder, or a circuit-board holder.

A holder can also refer to the owner or possessor of property, rights, or titles. In everyday language this can describe the holder of a lease, a patent, a bank account, or another asset. In legal and commercial contexts, the term identifies the immediate possessor of something that may convey certain rights or responsibilities.

In finance and law, the concept of a holder is formalized in terms such as a “holder in due course,” which describes someone who gains rights to a negotiable instrument that are protected against most defenses that could be raised against the issuer. More broadly, the holder of an office or position is the person who occupies it, while the holder of a patent, trademark, or other license is the owner of those rights.

As a surname, Holder is found in various cultures and contexts, and may be borne by individuals who have contributed to different fields. The word also appears in numerous compound terms and phrases that reflect the core idea of holding or keeping something.

See also: holding, holder in law, patent holder.