A bondholder is a person who invests in or owns debt instruments issued by firms and governments. A bondholder receives an interest payment from the bond issuer at a specified interval and maturity date. The term ‘bond’ refers to the debt instrument issued by the firm or government. In the US, the term bond is used in reference to any form of debt instrument. However, in other countries, 'bond' is used to refer to a debt instrument issued by a company, while similar instruments issued by governments are referred to as 'obligations'. A bond can be corporate, municipal, or government.