the first occasion on which shares are offered to the public

An initial public offering is the first occasion on which shares are offered to the public.

the very first sale of stock that a company makes to the public

An initial public offering is the very first sale of stock that a company makes to the public.

the process by which a private company first offers new stock shares to the public

An initial public offering is the process by which a private company first offers new stock shares to the public.

a process by which the company may do so and thereby go public

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is a process by which the company may do so and thereby go public.

a financial event where a company first sells shares of stock to the general public

An initial public offering (IPO) is a financial event where a company first sells shares of stock to the general public.

the first sale of stock by a formerly private company

An initial public offering (IPO) is the first sale of stock by a formerly private company.

privately held company issues shares of stock to the public for the first time

An initial public offering (IPO) is the process through which a privately held company issues shares of stock to the public for the first time.

the launch of a company on the stock market where shares in the company are offered for the first time

An initial public offering is the launch of a company on the stock market where shares in the company are offered for the first time, resulting in a share price being set and the company being valued.

a process a private firm must go through to become a public company

An initial public offering is a process a private firm must go through to become a public company.

a big step in a company's growth

An initial public offering (IPO) is a big step in a company's growth because a company's growth lets the company raise money, gain credibility, and get more attention.

A direct public offering

A direct public offering is an initial public offering in which the stock is purchased directly from the company, usually without the aid of brokers.

the process of selling a company’s stock to the public for the first time

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the process of selling a company’s stock to the public for the first time.

a significant event in the life of a company

An initial public offering is a significant event in the life of a company.

a process by a company for collecting money from the public by selling company shares for the first time

An initial public offering is a process by a company for collecting money from the public by selling company shares for the first time.