Company People I Group ˈkʌmpəni Good Small Largest

• the largest computer company in the world
• the national bus company
• she joined the company in 2009.
• company profits were 5% lower than last year.

company

1. a business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services
• the largest computer company in the world
• the National Bus Company
• She joined the company in 2009.
• Company profits were 5% lower than last year.
• He runs his own TV production company.
• company policy
2. a group of people who work or perform together
• a theatre/dance, etc. company
• the Royal Shakespeare Company
3. the fact of being with somebody else and not alone
• I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her).
• She enjoys her own company (= being by herself) when she is travelling.
• The children are very good company (= pleasant to be with) at this age.
• a pleasant evening in the company of friends
• He's coming with me for company.
4. guests in your house
• I didn't realize you had company.
5. a group of people together
• She told the assembled company what had happened.
• It is bad manners to whisper in company (= in a group of people).
6. a group of soldiers that is part of a battalion
7. the people that somebody spends time with
• Judging by the company he kept, Mark must have been a wealthy man.
8. to be friends with people that others disapprove of
• They worried about their teenage son getting into bad company.
9. together with or at the same time as somebody/something
• She arrived in company with the ship's captain.
• The US dollar went through a difficult time, in company with the oil market.
10. if you say that somebody is in good company, you mean that they should not worry about a mistake, etc. because somebody else, especially somebody more important, has done the same thing
• If you worry about your relationship with your teenage son or daughter, you are in good company. Many parents share these worries.
11. to stay with somebody so that they are not alone
• I'll keep you company while you're waiting.
12. to leave somebody; to end a relationship with somebody
• This is where we part company (= go in different directions).
• The band have parted company with their manager.
• The band and their manager have parted company.
13. to disagree with somebody about something
• Weber parted company with Marx on a number of important issues.
14. used after being rude or critical about somebody to say that the people you are talking to are not included in the criticism
• The people in this office are so narrow-minded, present company excepted, of course.
15. used to suggest that it is better to be in a group of only two people than have a third person with you as well

Extra Examples

• During the recession many small companies went out of business.
• He glanced around the assembled company.
• He has shares in several companies.
• He’s nervous in the company of his colleagues.
• He’s very good company.
• I always enjoy her company.
• I took my mother with me for company.
• I’ll stay and keep you company.
• It’s nice to have a bit of company for a change.
• John’s mother was worried about the company he kept.
• She’s been working for the same company for 15 years.
• That’s not something to say in mixed company.
• The company has been taken over by a rival.
• The company produces cotton goods.
• Those children don’t know how to behave in company.
• We’re expecting company this afternoon.
• a major European company
• a public limited company
• a small insurance company
• a small start-up software company
• a small touring opera company
• an international trading company
• the division of power within a company
• Company profits were 5% lower than last year.
• During the 1980s it was one of the largest computer companies in the world.
• He got into bad company and got involved in drugs.
• He works for the National Bus Company.
• I didn’t realize you had company.
• It is company policy not to allow smoking in the building.
• It’s not the type of joke you’d tell in mixed company.
• Mike gets a company car with his new job.
• She joined the company in 1992.
• The dining room was only used when they had company.

Word Origin

• Middle English (in senses (2) to (6)): from Old French compainie; related to compaignon, literally ‘one who breaks bread with another’, based on Latin com- ‘together with’ + panis ‘bread’.