merger

noun

merg·​er ˈmər-jər How to pronounce merger (audio)
1
law : the absorption of an estate, a contract, or an interest in another, of a minor offense in a greater, or of a cause of action into a judgment
2
a
: the act or process of merging
b
: absorption by a corporation of one or more others
also : any of various methods of combining two or more organizations (such as business concerns)

Examples of merger in a Sentence

The law firm announced its $50 million merger with one of its competitors. If the proposed merger of the two oil companies goes through, it would be bad for the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web Dimon was named Citi’s president following the merger—but a few months later, Weill, who had mentored him for 15 years at this point, asked him to resign during an executive weekend retreat. Byjasmine Li, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Late last year, the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice announced 11 new guidelines for mergers in the US. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 The movie was originally due to hit theaters in September 2022, then after the merger, it was moved to April 2023. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Reviving the Pac-12 likely will require a merger with the Mountain West or football creating its own organizational structure separate from other sports. Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 The merger will be subject of a March 22 vote by DWAC shareholders. Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe continue their tale of a metroplex — that is the imagined San San Corridor, a merger of San Diego and San Francisco. James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 Following a merger in 2013, the actor's brother took over the business again in 2017, and today, it's known as the Pitt Technology Group. Perri Ormont Blumberg, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Anderson, who is nearly one year into the job, has embarked on a restructuring that will shed hundreds of jobs and see the company cut its dividend by 95%, all in an effort to repair its finances after a disastrous 2018 merger with Monsanto. Damian Garde, STAT, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

merge + -er (as in waiver)

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of merger was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near merger

Cite this Entry

“Merger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merger. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

merger

noun
merg·​er ˈmər-jər How to pronounce merger (audio)
: the combination of two or more businesses into one

Legal Definition

merger

noun
merg·​er ˈmər-jər How to pronounce merger (audio)
1
: the absorption of a lesser estate or interest into a greater one held by the same person compare confusion
2
: the incorporation and superseding of one contract by another
3
a
: the treatment (as by statute) of two offenses deriving from the same conduct such that a defendant cannot be or is not punished for both especially when one offense is incidental to or necessarily included in the other
a merger of offenses in a statute
a merger of convictions
b
: the doctrine according to which such offenses must be merged compare double jeopardy

Note: Merger commonly involves the interpretation of statutes and legislative intent in deciding whether two or more offenses deriving from the same conduct remain distinct.

4
: a doctrine in civil litigation: a judgment in favor of a plaintiff incorporates and supersedes the cause of action and any claims based on it and requires that further litigation in the case by the defendant be concerned with the judgment itself compare bar sense 3b, estoppel by judgment at estoppel sense 2a, res judicata
5
: the superseding of a prior agreement in a divorce case by the divorce decree
6
a
: the act or process of merging
b
: absorption by one corporation of another
also : any of various methods of combining two or more organizations (as business concerns) compare consolidate
cash merger
: a merger in which shareholders in the company to be absorbed receive cash for their shares rather than shares in the absorbing company a tender offer to be followed by a cash merger see also cash out
de facto merger
: a merger that is characterized by the issuance of stock to the corporation to be absorbed rather than an outright purchase of assets for cash, by continued participation of the shareholders, directors, and employees of the absorbed corporation, and by an assumption of liabilities by the absorbing corporation

Note: Shareholders in a de facto merger are considered to have the same right to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares as shareholders in a statutory merger.

short-form merger
: an accelerated statutory merger between a subsidiary and a parent corporation that controls a large specified majority of shares in the subsidiary
statutory merger
: a merger performed in accordance with relevant statutes that require specific procedures for the notification and approval of shareholders

More from Merriam-Webster on merger

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