holding

Holding is a term used in business and finance with several related meanings. In corporate structure, a holding company is a company that owns a controlling interest in other companies, known as its subsidiaries. The primary purpose is to own shares and influence management, enabling organization of a corporate group without necessarily engaging in the same lines of business as its subsidiaries.

In everyday financial language, a holding can also refer to an asset that an investor owns, such as stocks, bonds, or real estate. An individual's holdings are the positions or investments they currently hold, and the term is often used in discussing portfolio diversification and capital allocation.

In real estate and land use, a holding or landholding denotes property owned by a person or organization, including parcels of land, buildings, or other resources. Holdings may be taxed, transferred, or inherited, and their size and use can influence legal rights and responsibilities.

In law, the holding of a court is its ruling on a concrete legal issue within a case. The holding establishes precedent and distinguishes itself from non-binding dicta, which may accompany the decision but are not controlling.

In sports and aviation, holding has other, separate meanings. In American football, holding is a foul for illegally gripping an opponent, typically resulting in a penalty. In aviation, a holding pattern is a racetrack-shaped route used to delay arrivals at an airport while awaiting clearance.