Inc.

Definition

The abbreviation "Inc." stands for “Incorporated,” indicating that a business is a legally constituted corporation, separate from its owners and shareholders.

Parts of Speech

• Abbreviation
• Noun

Pronunciation

Abbreviation form

• IPA: /ɪŋk/
• Respelling: INGK

Full word (“Incorporated”)

• American IPA: /ɪnˈkɔːr·pə·reɪ·tɪd/
• British IPA: /ɪnˈkɔːp·ə·reɪ·tɪd/
• Respelling: in-KOR-puh-ray-tid

Etymology

From Latin incorporatus “embodied, formed into a body,” past participle of incorporare “to form into a body” (in- “into” + corporare “to form into a body”). Adopted into English in the 18th century as a corporate designation.

Derivatives

• Incorporate (verb)
• Incorporation (noun)
• Incorporated (adjective)

Synonyms

• Corp. (Corporation)
• Ltd. (Limited)
• PLC (Public Limited Company)

Antonyms

• Unincorporated
• Proprietorship

Usage

"Inc." is used as a suffix in company names to denote corporate status. Example: "She accepted a position at Acme Inc."

Related Terms

• LLC: Limited Liability Company.
• Ltd.: Limited.
• Corp.: Corporation.
• PLC: Public Limited Company.

Detailed Definitions

Abbreviation

• Denotes a legally incorporated entity: Used immediately after a company’s name.
  • Example: "Business Solutions Inc. announced a new product."

Noun

• An incorporated company: A corporate body recognized by law as separate from its owners.
  • Example: "The Inc. filed its annual financial statements."