a company that controls other companies through stock ownership but that usually does not engage directly in their productive operations (distinguished from parent company).
Origin
1905-10
Examples from the web for holding company
Any bank holding company of size is in the acquisition mode, not the selling mode.
Formation of a mutual holding company by a mutual savings bank.
British Dictionary definitions for holding company
holding company
noun
1.
a company with controlling shareholdings in one or more other companies