company
company
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "company" is /ˈkʌmpəni/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ˈkʌm:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ʌ/: Open-mid back unrounded vowel (as in "cup")
/m/: Bilabial nasal
pə:
/p/: Voiceless bilabial stop
/ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)
ni:
/n/: Alveolar nasal
/i/: Close front unrounded vowel (as in "fleece")
Word Form Variations
Company" is primarily a noun. While it doesn't typically have direct adjective or adverb forms of itself, it is closely related to other words that do.
Noun Forms:
Singular: company (e.g., "She works for a tech company.")
Plural: companies (e.g., "Many companies are hiring now.")
Related Forms:
Verb: accompany (e.g., "He will accompany her to the event.")
Adjective: corporate (e.g., "They follow corporate policies.")
Adjective: companionable (e.g., "He is a very companionable person.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun Definitions
A commercial business enterprise; a firm.
Synonyms: Business, firm, corporation, enterprise, establishment, agency, organization
Antonyms: Individual, sole proprietorship
The fact or state of being with another person or other people, especially in a way that provides friendship or enjoyment.
Synonyms: Companionship, fellowship, society, presence, camaraderie, association
Antonyms: Solitude, loneliness, isolation, seclusion
A group of people assembled together, especially for a particular purpose or task.
Synonyms: Group, party, band, troupe, squad, gathering, assembly
Antonyms: Individual, solitary figure
(Military) A unit of soldiers, typically consisting of three or four platoons.
Synonyms: Unit, detachment, troop, formation
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a military unit)
Examples of Use
Books
"Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." (William Shakespeare, The Tempest, c. 1610) – Here, "bedfellows" implies the company one keeps.
"He found great comfort in the company of his old friends." (From a novel emphasizing camaraderie)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The tech company announced record profits for the last quarter." (Reuters)
"Loneliness can be mitigated by seeking out good company and engaging in social activities." (Psychology Today)
"A local dance company is set to perform at the national festival." (Daily Nation)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: In Forrest Gump (1994), Forrest often finds himself in the company of historical figures.
Television: "Welcome to the company picnic! We hope you enjoy the day." (Common in sitcoms or workplace dramas)
Music: Many songs talk about wanting someone's company or lamenting the lack of it, such as "Can't Buy Me Love" by The Beatles.
Video Games: Players often form a "party" or "company" of characters to embark on quests in role-playing games.
General Public Discourse
"I enjoy your company very much." (Everyday expression of appreciation)
"Which company do you work for?" (Common question about employment)
"We're expecting company over for dinner tonight." (Referring to guests)
"The whole company of actors gathered for the curtain call." (Referring to a theatrical troupe)
10 Quotes Using Company
"Misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows." (William Shakespeare, The Tempest) - Here, "bed-fellows" is synonymous with the company one keeps.
"Show me your friends and I'll show you who you are." (Often attributed to various sources, implying the importance of company)
"He that is rich, is company for many." (Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia)
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." (African Proverb, highlighting the value of company)
"A man is known by the company he keeps." (Proverb, in existence since the 14th century)
"Bad company corrupts good character." (Proverbial, derived from 1 Corinthians 15:33)
"I love to be alone, but I hate to be lonely." (Common sentiment, contrasting solitude with a desire for company)
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." (John Donne, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII, emphasizing the need for company)
"The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive." (Coco Chanel, implying good company is invaluable)
"A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen in the morning, at noon and by moonlight." (Robertson Davies, emphasizing how a book's "company" changes with age)
Etymology
The word "company" comes from the Old French word "compagnie," meaning "society, friendship, intimacy." This, in turn, originated from the Late Latin phrase "companio," which meant "one who eats bread with another."
This Latin phrase is a combination of "com-" (meaning "with" or "together") and "panis" (meaning "bread"). So, at its very root, "company" literally referred to people who shared meals together, highlighting the idea of close association and fellowship.
The first known use of "company" in English, around the late 12th century, reflected this original sense of companionship, fellowship, or a group of people associated together. Over time, the meaning broadened to include commercial enterprises and military units, but the core idea of "being with others" remains.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Company
Keep someone company: To stay with someone so they are not alone.
Example: "I'll keep you company while you wait."
In good company: Surrounded by people who share similar qualities, often positive.
Example: "Don't worry about making mistakes; you're in good company here."
Part company: To separate from someone or something.
Example: "They decided to part company after years of working together."
Keep company with: To associate regularly with someone.
Example: "She prefers to keep company with people who share her interests."
Company man/woman: A person whose loyalty is primarily to their employer.
Example: "He's a real company man, always putting the firm first."
For company: To alleviate loneliness or boredom.
Example: "She turned on the radio for company while she worked."
Society of peers: (Using a synonym, "society," referring to a group of equals).
Example: "He thrived in the society of peers who understood his passion."
Fellow traveler: (Using a synonym, "fellow," to mean a companion or associate).
Example: "He met many fellow travelers on his journey."
Birds of a feather flock together: (An idiom implying people with similar interests or backgrounds keep each other's company).
Example: "It's no surprise they're friends; birds of a feather flock together."
To join forces: (Meaning to combine efforts, similar to forming a company or group for a purpose).
Example: "The two small businesses decided to join forces for the new project."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of company from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
