Pronunciation: [kənɡlˈɒməɹˌe͡ɪt] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "conglomerate" can be tricky, but it follows the rules of English phonetics. The word is pronounced /kənˈɡlɒmərət/, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is pronounced as "kuhn" and the second syllable as "glom". The "e" at the end of the word is silent. "Conglomerate" refers to a group of diverse companies or entities that are joined together as a single entity.
A conglomerate refers to a large and diverse group or collection of different entities, such as companies, corporations, or organizations, that are united under one overarching entity or parent company. This unification is typically achieved through a process of merging or acquiring various smaller businesses with the objective of creating a larger and more powerful corporate entity.
The key characteristic of a conglomerate is its wide range of subsidiaries, which operate in different industries or sectors. These subsidiaries are maintained as separate entities, maintaining their brand identity and distinct operations, while being financially controlled or influenced by the conglomerate.
Conglomerates often operate using a strategy called diversification, through which they aim to minimize risks by investing in a wide range of industries. This allows them to offset potential losses in one sector with gains from another. By having a broad portfolio, conglomerates can also benefit from various advantages, such as economies of scale and expertise sharing among subsidiaries.
Furthermore, conglomerates possess significant financial resources and can leverage their size and influence to negotiate favorable business agreements and secure competitive advantages in the market. Due to their complexity, conglomerates are commonly associated with large multinational corporations with a global presence.
Overall, conglomerates are characterized by their diverse business portfolio, extensive reach, and ability to create synergies between different entities, making them major players in the economy.
Composed of several parts aggregated into one mass; noting (a) certain large compound glands, (b) a plate culture with a group of similar colonies lying close together; see cut under colony, 2, A.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• Gathered together, as a ball of thread; gathered into a mass.
• A sort of coarse rough rock composed of various substances, as pebbles of quartz, flints, &c.-also called pudding-stone.
• To collect into a round mass.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "conglomerate" has its origins in the Latin language. It derives from the Latin word "conglomerare", which is a combination of two elements: "con-" meaning "together" and "glomerare" meaning "to form into a ball" or "to gather into a mass". Over time, this Latin term was adopted into the English language, and "conglomerate" came to be used to describe things that are made up of various elements or components merged together. In the context of economics and business, "conglomerate" also refers to a corporation or company that consists of a diverse range of businesses operating under a single entity.
