companies

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Organizations that make or sell goods or provide services in order to earn money.

   Grammar: Plural of company: many companies are hiring, while one company is hiring.

   Patterns

   • companies that do something
   • companies in something

   Several companies in our town closed during the recession.

   Large companies often offer better pensions than small ones.

   Both companies agreed to share the cost of the new bridge.

2. 2nounplural

   Groups of performers, such as actors or dancers, who work together under one name.

   Grammar: Plural of the performing-group sense: two dance companies toured.

   Patterns

   • theatre companies
   • touring companies

   Three opera companies performed in the city this season.

   Touring companies often struggle to pay for travel.

   Both ballet companies hold open auditions every spring.

3. 3nounpluralmilitary

   Army units, usually of around a hundred soldiers, that form part of a larger battalion.

   Grammar: Plural of the military unit sense; written with a capital letter when part of a name.

   Patterns

   • companies of soldiers

   Four companies were sent forward to hold the bridge.

   Each battalion in the regiment has three rifle companies.

   The companies camped on opposite sides of the river.

Common combinations

private companies

Private companies run most of the local bus routes.

multinational companies

Multinational companies often relocate staff abroad.

set up companies

She has set up two companies since leaving university.

companies house

Small firms must file their accounts with Companies House.

listed companies

Listed companies must publish their results every quarter.

Synonyms and how they differ

businesses

It is a broader and more casual word that includes one-person shops, whereas companies often suggests a formally registered organization.

firms

It is common for law, accounting and design practices and sounds slightly smaller than companies.

corporations

It points to large, legally independent organizations and sounds more formal than companies.

Word family

company noun

singular form: a business or a group of performers

accompany verb

to go with someone

companion noun

a person who spends time with you

corporate adjective

relating to a large company

Commonly confused: companies or compañías?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “companies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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