Stakeholder
/ˈsteɪkˌhoʊldər/noun
A person or group with an interest or concern in something, especially a business or project.
Did you know?The word began in gambling: a stakeholder was the neutral third party who held the stakes in a bet, and only later did it evolve into the modern idea of someone with a vested interest.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
stake
“A strong wooden post or a wager placed in a contest or bet.”
Middle English
English
holder
“One who holds or keeps something.”
18th Century
English
stake-holder
“A neutral person who held money or property wagered in a contest.”
19th Century
English
stakeholder
“A person entrusted with holding the stakes in a wager or dispute.”
20th Century
English
stakeholder
“A person or group with an interest in the success or outcome of something.”
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