C2 noun Neutral

investor

/ɪnˈvɛstər/

An investor is an individual or entity that allocates capital with the expectation of receiving a financial return or profit in the future. In a broader sense, it can refer to someone who devotes substantial time or effort to a project or relationship expecting a beneficial outcome.

Examples

3 of 5
1

My uncle is a savvy investor who has been buying gold coins for decades.

My uncle is a savvy investor who has been buying gold coins for decades.

2

The institutional investor requested a comprehensive audit of the firm's ESG compliance before proceeding.

The institutional investor requested a comprehensive audit of the firm's ESG compliance before proceeding.

3

If you're looking for an investor for your lemonade stand, you should ask your grandma.

If you're looking for an investor for your lemonade stand, you should ask your grandma.

Word Family

Noun
investor
Verb
invest
Adjective
invested
Related
investment
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Memory Tip

Think of an investor as a gardener who 'vests' (dresses) the soil with seeds of money to watch a forest of profit grow.

Quick Quiz

The company's stock plummeted after a major _____ withdrew their support during the quarterly meeting.

Correct!

The correct answer is: investor

Examples

1

My uncle is a savvy investor who has been buying gold coins for decades.

everyday

My uncle is a savvy investor who has been buying gold coins for decades.

2

The institutional investor requested a comprehensive audit of the firm's ESG compliance before proceeding.

formal

The institutional investor requested a comprehensive audit of the firm's ESG compliance before proceeding.

3

If you're looking for an investor for your lemonade stand, you should ask your grandma.

informal

If you're looking for an investor for your lemonade stand, you should ask your grandma.

4

Economists argue that the behavior of the rational investor is often compromised by cognitive biases during market volatility.

academic

Economists argue that the behavior of the rational investor is often compromised by cognitive biases during market volatility.

5

The startup is currently seeking a lead investor for its Series B funding round.

business

The startup is currently seeking a lead investor for its Series B funding round.

Word Family

Noun
investor
Verb
invest
Adjective
invested
Related
investment

Common Collocations

angel investor angel investor
institutional investor institutional investor
investor confidence investor confidence
retail investor retail investor
lead investor lead investor

Common Phrases

investor relations

investor relations

sophisticated investor

sophisticated investor

return for investors

return for investors

Often Confused With

investor vs investigator

An investigator searches for facts or examines crimes, while an investor puts money into ventures for profit.

investor vs speculator

An investor typically takes a long-term view with calculated risk, whereas a speculator takes high risks for quick, short-term gains.

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Usage Notes

While primarily a financial term, 'investor' can be used metaphorically to describe someone who puts energy or emotion into a situation. In legal contexts, 'sophisticated' or 'accredited' investors refer to those with high net worth and market knowledge.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often misspell the suffix as '-er' (invester), but it must be '-or'. They also occasionally confuse it with 'investigator' due to the phonetic similarity.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of an investor as a gardener who 'vests' (dresses) the soil with seeds of money to watch a forest of profit grow.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'investire', meaning to clothe or surround, which later evolved into the sense of 'dressing' capital in a new form to produce returns.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: investors (plural) Often followed by the preposition 'in' (e.g., an investor in real estate) Can be used as a compound noun (e.g., investor relations)
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Cultural Context

In many Western cultures, the rise of retail investing platforms has shifted the 'investor' identity from elite financiers to common individuals managing their own retirement funds.

Quick Quiz

The company's stock plummeted after a major _____ withdrew their support during the quarterly meeting.

Correct!

The correct answer is: investor

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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