“种类股”也称“类别股”，是与普通股相对的一种股份类别，是指在公司的股权设置中，存在两个以上不同种类、不同权利的股份，这些股份因认购时间和价格不同、认购者身份各异、交易场所有别，而在流通性、价格、权利及义务上有所区别。

在普通股之外再创设出类别股的原因有以下三点：1. 单一的普通股模式无法满足多元化的投资需求。2. 资本市场深入发展的客观要求。3. 投资者利益平衡的需要。

类别股份制度能够直接实现股东具体权利的分离，其所表达的法理内涵是股东权利及其构造不应当被视为公司法的创造物，而应当是公司参与方之间的自由议价缔约的结果，股东权利多元化配置的基本实现机制实质上是通过对股东权利体系中的归属、收益、参与及处分等多种维度上的权利交换。

“种类股”中的“种类”即为“class”，如很多公司会把公司股本分为A类股Class A 和B类股Class B:

The share capital of the Company is US$180,000 divided into (a) 1, 560,000,000 Class A Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and (b) 240,000,000 Class B Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.

公司股本为180,000美元，分为：(a)每股面值为0.0001美元的1, 560,000,000股A类股；和(b) 每股面值为0.0001美元的240,000,000股B类股。

因而“种类股”即“class shares”或“class of shares”A class of shares is a type of listed company stock that is differentiated by the level of voting rights shareholders receive.

“种类股股东”即可直接译为“class shareholders”。以下为日本公司法中与种类股股东和种类股有关的规定，供参考：

In cases where a Company with Class Shares carries out an act listed in the following items, if it is likely to cause detriment to the Class Shareholders of any class of shares, such act does not become effective unless a resolution is passed at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of the shares of such class (in cases where there are two or more classes of shares relating to such Class Shareholders, referring to the respective General Meetings of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders categorized by the class of such two or more classes of shares; hereinafter the same applies in this Article);provided, however, that this does not apply to the case where there exists no Class Shareholder who may exercise votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders.