IPO

noun

ˌī-(ˌ)pē-ˈō How to pronounce IPO (audio)
plural IPOs
: an initial public offering of a company's stock

Examples of IPO in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still, SpaceX shares are down 21% from their closing peak shortly after the IPO. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 Plus, quiet periods are ending for banks that worked on last month’s blockbuster IPO, so we’re met with a flood of analyst initiations. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 7 July 2026 Kenya’s government held 35% after the 2008 IPO and left management to its private partners. — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The rocket company’s fundraising comes after rival SpaceX’s record $86 billion IPO, which made Elon Musk a trillionaire. — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for IPO

Word History

Etymology

initial public offering

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of IPO was in 1976

Browse Nearby Words

IPM
IPO
Ipoh
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“IPO.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/IPO. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

IPO

noun
ˌī-ˌpē-ˈō How to pronounce IPO (audio)
: an initial public offering of a company's stock
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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