Definition of "closely-held" []

• Owned by a relatively few shareholders; -- of business organizations. (adjective)

Gnu Collaboartive International Dictionary of English: licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

• "As the twentieth century began, progressive reformers in state houses and city halls, socialists in industrial cities and out on the prairies, strikebound workers from coast to coast, working-class feminists, antiwar activists, and numerous others were still vigorously condemning that same Money Trust for turning the whole country into a closely-held system of financial pillage, labor exploitation, and imperial adventuring abroad."
• "In the past, the low-end automobile market for years was dominated by small closely-held auto makers including BYD."
• "Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group PLC are experimenting with technology from OpenWays, a closely-held Chicago company."