co-owner

The two co-owners sign the new business contract.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A joint owner: "co-owner" refers to a person who shares ownership of something (such as property, a business, or an asset) with one or more other individuals. This implies equal or proportional rights and responsibilities.

Usage Examples

• (We both have legal ownership of the property.)
• (The business is jointly owned by three people.)
• (She holds shared ownership and decision-making power.)

Advanced Usage

• "co-owner in common": a legal term describing ownership where each co-owner has a distinct, undivided share.
  • The land is held as co-owners in common, with each owning 50 percent. (Each has a separate but shared interest.)
• "co-owner by marriage": a situation where a spouse becomes a co-owner of property acquired during marriage.
  • Under community property law, the wife is a co-owner by marriage of the house. (She holds ownership through marital rights.)

Variants and Related Words

• Co-ownership (n): the state or condition of being a co-owner.
  • The co-ownership of the business is documented in a legal agreement. (The joint ownership is formally recorded.)
• Co-own (v): to own something jointly with another person.
  • They co-own a boat that they use for weekend trips. (They share ownership of the vessel.)

Synonyms

• Joint owner: a person who owns something together with others.
• Partner: a person who shares ownership in a business or venture.
• Shareholder: a person who owns shares in a company, especially in a corporate context.

Related Idioms

• "To have a stake in": to have a financial or personal interest in something, often implying shared ownership.
  • He has a stake in the startup, making him a co-owner. (He holds a financial share.)
• "To be in the same boat": to share the same situation or risks, sometimes applied to co-owners.
  • As co-owners, they are in the same boat when it comes to profits and losses. (They share both benefits and burdens.)