wholly owned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly owned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a company or asset that is entirely owned by a single entity (such as a single person, group of people, or organization). For example, you could say: "This company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the larger multinational corporation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Others, however, are wholly owned by Saudis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her sons are Ronnie's wholly owned subsidiaries.

The New Yorker

Chelsea is wholly owned by Abramovich, a Russian.

The New York Times - Sports

And Chelsea is wholly owned by the oligarch Roman Abramovich.

The New York Times - Sports

Indeed, FIEs include enterprises wholly owned by foreigners.

The Economist

(AirTran became a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest in May).

The New York Times

Otis became a wholly owned subsidiary of UTC in 1976.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Local firms learn from both joint ventures and wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries and the effects are larger from wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Research Policy

The company is henceforth a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avaya.

TechCrunch

OCTANE360 will become a wholly-owned division of Local.com Corporation.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing subsidiary relationships, use "wholly owned subsidiary" to emphasize the parent company's total control and responsibility.

Common error

Don't use "wholly owned" when describing a company where the ownership isn't 100%. "Majority owned" is more appropriate when an entity owns more than 50% but not all of another.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly owned" functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to indicate complete and exclusive ownership. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of it modifying terms like "subsidiary", "shops", and "enterprises".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wholly owned" is a compound adjective used to clearly express complete ownership, frequently in business and legal contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and prevalent in various sources. While alternatives exist, "wholly owned" offers precision, especially when describing subsidiary relationships. It's crucial not to confuse it with terms like "majority owned", which imply partial control. By understanding the nuances of "wholly owned", writers can ensure accuracy and clarity in their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely owned

Emphasizes the completeness of ownership.

entirely owned

Highlights that the ownership is without any shared rights.

fully owned

Focuses on the fullness of ownership.

exclusively owned

Stresses that no one else has ownership rights.

solely owned

Underscores that the ownership belongs to a single entity.

100% owned

Expresses ownership in percentage terms, indicating full control.

absolutely owned

Emphasizes the lack of limitations on ownership.

privately held

Indicates ownership by a non-public entity.

under complete control

Indicates the power derived from ownership.

under sole proprietorship

Refers to a business owned and run by one person.

FAQs

How can I use "wholly owned" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly owned" to describe a subsidiary, for example: "The company operates as a "wholly owned subsidiary" of the parent company."

What are some alternatives to "wholly owned"?

Alternatives to "wholly owned" include "completely owned", "entirely owned", or "fully owned", each emphasizing complete control or ownership.

Is it grammatically correct to say "wholly owned subsidiary"?

Yes, "wholly owned subsidiary" is grammatically correct. It specifies that the subsidiary is entirely owned by the parent company, reinforcing the complete ownership structure.

What's the difference between "wholly owned" and "majority owned"?

"Wholly owned" signifies 100% ownership, while "majority owned" indicates that more than 50% of the entity is owned, but not necessarily all of it. Use "majority owned" when the ownership is over 50% but less than 100%.