corporation
UK: ˌkɔː.pərˈeɪ.ʃən | US: ˌkɔːr.pɚˈeɪ.ʃən
n. A large company or group of companies authorized to act as a single legal entity.
n. A group of people elected to govern a city, town, or borough.
n. (Historical) A group of individuals united for a common purpose, such as a guild.
The word "corporation" traces back to the Latin corpus (body), reflecting the idea of a unified group acting as one "body." The suffix -ation transforms it into a noun denoting the state or result of being united. Originally used for medieval guilds or municipal governments, its meaning expanded in the 17th century to describe legally chartered business entities, emphasizing collective identity.
The multinational corporation operates in over 50 countries.
The city corporation approved the new urban development plan.
Medieval trade corporations regulated craft standards.
Shareholders voted to dissolve the corporation.
The corporation filed for bankruptcy due to financial mismanagement.