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Securities and Exchange Commission

Securities and Exchange Commission

24 4.6
A U.S. government agency that watches financial markets and protects investors
  • proper noun
  • /sɪˈkjʊərɪtiz ənd ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ kəˈmɪʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : Comisión de Bolsa y Valores
  • Institutions are required to file 13F forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a quarterly basis.
  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman

Examples

  • Typically, when you sell a security, you must register the sale with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

    Blog text (28)
  • The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently estimated the size of the municipal bond market to be approximately $2.8 trillion.

    Academic text (2018)
  • And eventually the Securities and Exchange Commission said no more.

  • This goes to the federal, to the Securities and Exchange Commission for approval.

  • Here are the facts according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Blog text (28)
  • The firm settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission for $41 million.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The Securities and Exchange Commission files a civil action against WorldCom in New York federal court.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Part of the law, passed by Congress last July, juices the ability of the Securities and Exchange Commission to entice whistle-blowers to come forward.

    Academic text (2011)
  • BP also agreed to pay $525 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission violations stemming from the disaster.

    Blog text (24)
  • The company is the subject of an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Synonyms

SEC
vsSecurities and Exchange Commission
  • US
436 4.2

A US government group that makes companies follow rules about stocks to protect people who invest money

stresses broader oversight to keep markets fair and efficient

Surface Forms

Morphology

security + and + exchange + commission

The name is fully compositional: 'commission' denotes a formal committee or agency and the modifier 'securities and exchange' specifies its domain (securities/stock exchanges). A B1 learner who knows these constituent meanings can infer it is an official body that oversees or regulates securities and exchange activity; this X‑Commission naming pattern is common across languages, making the meaning transparent.

Etymology

Securities and Exchange Commission comes from the parts of its name: it watches over securities, meaning things like 'stocks' and 'bonds', and over the exchange, the places where those things are bought and sold, and it is a commission, a group of officials. So the name fits its job as the U.S. government agency that 'makes rules for' financial markets and 'protects' investors.