Savings: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to refer to money that has been set aside, often in a bank, for future use or emergency situations.

• I dipped into my savings to pay for the car repairs.
• He's been building his savings for years to afford a house.

A broader term referring to available money for a particular purpose, such as investments, projects, or specific expenses.

• The charity event raised significant funds for cancer research.
• She's allocating funds for the company's marketing campaign.

Generally used to describe money kept back for specific needs or emergencies, often in a business or institutional context.

• The company maintains financial reserves to cover unexpected expenses.
• During the pandemic, many businesses had to dip into their reserves.

Informal term for money saved over time, typically for retirement or major financial goals. Often used in a personal finance context.

• They have a substantial nest egg saved up for their retirement.
• A good nest egg can provide financial security later in life.

Use this word to refer to money that you have set aside for future use, typically kept in a bank account. It is often associated with personal finance and financial planning.

• I have been building up my savings for a down payment on a house.
• Make sure to put some of your earnings into your savings account.

This term is more formal and is used in the context of economics and finance. It refers to the process of gathering and increasing the amount of capital (assets, investments) over time. Mainly used in business or academic discussions.

• Capital accumulation is essential for the growth of a company.
• The economics course covered various methods of capital accumulation.

Hoarding has a negative connotation and is used to describe the act of accumulating money or possessions in excessive amounts, often secretly and without intention to use them. It can also refer to a psychological condition where individuals excessively collect items.

• His hoarding tendencies have taken over his entire house.
• Hoarding cash can be detrimental to the economy.