Phrase guide

shell company

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A company that engages in no substantive business activities, but instead exists as a vehicle for legal or financial transactions, typically to shield another party from liability or other issues.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shell corporation, letterbox company, mailbox company, front company

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: skuffeselskab — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Dutch: brievenbusfirma — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Dutch: brievenbusmaatschappij — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Finnish: peiteyhtiö — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Finnish: peiteyritys — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Finnish: peitefirma — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • French: société écran — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • German: Briefkastenfirma — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • German: Briefkastengesellschaft — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • German: Domizilgesellschaft — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Indonesian: perusahaan cangkang — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Japanese: ペーパーカンパニー (pēpā kanpanī) — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Norwegian Bokmål: postkasseselskap — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Polish: spółka-wydmuszka — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Portuguese: empresa-fantasma — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Spanish: empresa fantasma — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Spanish: compañía fachada — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Spanish: corporación pantalla — company without activity created for tax purposes
  • Swedish: skalbolag — company without activity created for tax purposes