A working reference for the vocabulary of financial markets — organized by domain, not alphabetically. Definitions are written for investors, analysts, financial journalists, and informed participants who need precision without the padding of a textbook. Market Structure Equity Ownership interest in a company, represented by shares of stock. Equity holders are residual claimants — they receive what remains after all creditors and obligations are satisfied. Common equity carries voting rights; preferred equity has priority in distributions but typically limited voting power.