Pension: meaning, definitions and examples

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pension

[ˈpɛnʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

retirement fund

A pension is a fixed amount of money paid regularly by the government or a former employer to a person who no longer works because of their age or a disability.

Synonyms

retirement pay, superannuation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pension	Used in common language to refer to the regular payments received after reaching retirement age or leaving a job due to disability. She lives comfortably on her pension. He plans to travel once he starts receiving his pension.
retirement pay	Typically used in a workplace or formal setting to refer specifically to the money received upon retiring. Often used in discussions about retirement benefits and financial planning. The company offers a generous retirement pay package. She is calculating her retirement pay to ensure she can maintain her lifestyle.
superannuation	Commonly used in Australian English to refer to a retirement fund or pension scheme that individuals pay into during their working life. Formal term often found in legal, financial, and organizational contexts. You should check your superannuation balance regularly. He has been contributing to his superannuation fund since he started his first job.

Word

Description / Examples

pension

Used in common language to refer to the regular payments received after reaching retirement age or leaving a job due to disability.

She lives comfortably on her pension.
He plans to travel once he starts receiving his pension.

retirement pay

Typically used in a workplace or formal setting to refer specifically to the money received upon retiring. Often used in discussions about retirement benefits and financial planning.

The company offers a generous retirement pay package.
She is calculating her retirement pay to ensure she can maintain her lifestyle.

superannuation

Commonly used in Australian English to refer to a retirement fund or pension scheme that individuals pay into during their working life. Formal term often found in legal, financial, and organizational contexts.

You should check your superannuation balance regularly.
He has been contributing to his superannuation fund since he started his first job.

Examples of usage

He receives a monthly pension from the government.
She has been living on her pension since retiring.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

accommodation

A pension is also a boarding house or small hotel in Europe.

Synonyms

boarding house, guesthouse.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pension	Like the first entry, used in some languages, especially French and Italian, to describe a small, modest hotel or guesthouse offering meals and accommodation. It typically carries a more traditional and homely vibe. While touring Italy, we stayed in a pension that served delightful local dishes. The pension was located in a historic building, adding to our authentic travel experience.
boarding house	Refers to a house where lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods. Meals may be provided. It is usually more affordable and can have a long-term resident feel. After moving to the city for university, I found a room in a cozy boarding house close to campus. Many workers stayed in the boarding house during the construction project.
guesthouse	A private house offering accommodations, often run by the owners. It can range from luxury to budget-friendly and is commonly used in English-speaking countries. We booked a guesthouse for our vacation in the countryside to enjoy a quieter environment. The guesthouse had a beautiful garden and very welcoming hosts.

Word

Description / Examples

pension

Like the first entry, used in some languages, especially French and Italian, to describe a small, modest hotel or guesthouse offering meals and accommodation. It typically carries a more traditional and homely vibe.

While touring Italy, we stayed in a pension that served delightful local dishes.
The pension was located in a historic building, adding to our authentic travel experience.

boarding house

Refers to a house where lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods. Meals may be provided. It is usually more affordable and can have a long-term resident feel.

After moving to the city for university, I found a room in a cozy boarding house close to campus.
Many workers stayed in the boarding house during the construction project.

guesthouse

A private house offering accommodations, often run by the owners. It can range from luxury to budget-friendly and is commonly used in English-speaking countries.

We booked a guesthouse for our vacation in the countryside to enjoy a quieter environment.
The guesthouse had a beautiful garden and very welcoming hosts.

Examples of usage

They stayed at a cozy pension during their vacation in France.
The pension offered comfortable rooms and a delicious breakfast.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'pension' comes from the Latin 'pensionem', meaning 'payment' or 'to weigh out'.
It was first used in Middle English in the early 15th century, referring to a type of reward for services.

Historical Context

Pensions started to gain popularity in Europe during the 19th century, especially for soldiers and civil servants.
The first modern pension system was established in Germany in the 1880s under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

Social Studies

Many countries have made pension schemes mandatory to secure financial stability for the elderly.
Pensions can be funded through employer contributions, employee savings, or government funds.

Pop Culture

Movies and TV shows often portray retirement communities, which are supported by pension plans.
Songs about getting older frequently mention the idea of living off a pension.

Economics

Pensions are a crucial part of financial planning, affecting savings and investments for millions of people.
The stability of pension funds can impact national economies, especially as populations age.

Translations

Translations of the word "pension" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pensão

🇮🇳 पेंशन

🇩🇪 Rente

🇮🇩 pensiun

🇺🇦 пенсія

🇵🇱 emerytura

🇯🇵 年金 (ねんきん)

🇫🇷 pension

🇪🇸 pensión

🇹🇷 emeklilik

🇰🇷 연금 (yeongeum)

🇸🇦 معاش

🇨🇿 důchod

🇸🇰 dôchodok

🇨🇳 退休金 (tuìxiū jīn)

🇸🇮 pokojnina

🇮🇸 lífeyrir

🇰🇿 зейнетақы

🇬🇪 პენსია

🇦🇿 pensiya

🇲🇽 pensión

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,720, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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2717 admission
2718 surplus
2719 worthy
2720 pension
2721 trend
2722 commitment
2723 managers
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