Acquisition Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/əˈkwaɪzɪʁn/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

The process or act of acquiring or gaining something, especially a company or asset, typically through purchase or merger.

Examples

• The company made a major acquisition last year, acquiring a rival firm in the industry.
• The museum’s acquisition of the rare artifact was a major coup for the institution.

Synonyms

• Purchase
• Merge
• Gain

Antonyms

• Loss
• Divestiture

Etymology

The word “acquisition” comes from the Latin words “acquirere,” meaning “to obtain or gain,” and “quisitiõ,” meaning “obtaining” or “getting.”

Usage Notes

Acquisition is often used in business and finance to describe the process of buying or merging with another company. It can also be used in a broader sense to describe the act of gaining or obtaining something, such as knowledge or skills.

Cultural References

The term “acquisition” has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and books, often in the context of corporate takeovers or mergers and acquisitions.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Make an acquisition: to gain or obtain something, especially in a valued or significant way

Related Words or Phrases

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Takeover
•  

Collocations

• Acquisition of a company
• Contact acquisition
•  

Frequency of Use

Acquisition is a commonly used term in business and finance, and its frequency of use has increased in recent years due to the rise of mergers and acquisitions.

Common Misspellings

• Acquirment
• Acqueriement