Stock

Formal

Two common definitions:- In the UK/Europe, refers to inventories or finished goods held by a company to satisfy the immediate requirements of customers. In USA, refers to Shares and other investment assets in Corporations, e.g. Ordinary shares are called ‘Common Stock’ - remember the old term ‘Stocks and Shares’.

Real-world Example

A UK grocery chain reports 'stock levels' meaning inventory on its shelves, while a US investor talking about 'buying stock' means purchasing shares in a company - same word, two different meanings.