From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishparent companyˈparent ˌcompany noun [countable] BBCa company that controls a smaller company or organization
Examples from the Corpus
parent company• It would become famous, but not quite in the way its parent company intended.• Often subsidiaries are required to guarantee or give charges in support of borrowings by the parent company or other companies in the group.• Beauty features highlight another problem which can arise if the parent company is based abroad.• What would be the position if the parent company did not take the exemption afforded by s 248?• Under our law, a subsidiary can go bankrupt and normally the parent company will not be liable for its debts.From Longman Business Dictionaryparent companyˈparent ˌcompanyFINANCE a company that owns other companiesCosts are two thirds lower at Japan Air Charter, a subsidiary that employs foreigners, than at the parent company. → company 