Meaning & use
IFO
Last updated
Meanings
abbreviationcountablebusinessfinance
A company or organization that is owned or controlled by another, larger company.
Grammar: Countable: one IFO, two IFOs. Often written in all capitals.
Patterns
- an IFO of a company
- a foreign IFO
The bank is an IFO of a large European financial group.
The company set up an IFO in Singapore to handle Asian sales.
As an IFO, the firm must follow the parent company's rules.
abbreviationcountabletechnical
Identified Flying Object: an object in the sky that has been recognized or explained.
Grammar: Countable: one IFO, several IFOs. Often used in news reports.
Patterns
- report an IFO
- identify an IFO
After investigation, the strange light was classified as an IFO.
The pilot reported an IFO flying near the airport.
Most UFO sightings turn out to be IFOs like weather balloons.
Word forms
| plural | IFOs |
|---|
Common combinations
- wholly owned IFO
- The auto manufacturer created a wholly owned IFO to manage its electric vehicle division.
- foreign IFO
- The bank's foreign IFO in London handles all European transactions.
- IFO of a company
- This small software firm is an IFO of a major tech corporation.
- set up an IFO
- The startup set up an IFO in Delaware to attract investors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- subsidiary
- This is the usual full word for a company controlled by another; IFO is an abbreviation often used in financial news.
- affiliate
- An affiliate is connected to a larger company but may not be fully owned; an IFO is typically more directly controlled.
Opposites
Commonly confused: IFO or UFO?
IFO vs UFO
A UFO is an unidentified flying object; an IFO is one that has been identified or explained.
Practice
The company created a separate legal entity to handle its overseas sales, but it remains under the parent company's control. This entity is best described as:
Choose one answer.
An IFO is a company controlled by another, larger company. 'UFO' is an unidentified flying object, which does not fit a business context. 'Parent company' is the opposite—it controls others. 'Merger' refers to the joining of two companies, not a controlled entity.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “IFO”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.