economy

[ ih-kon-uh-mee ]

/ ɪˈkɒn ə mi /

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noun, plural e·con·o·mies.

thrifty management; frugality in the expenditure or consumption of money, materials, etc.

an act or means of thrifty saving; a saving: He achieved a small economy by walking to work instead of taking a bus.

the management of the resources of a community, country, etc., especially with a view to its productivity.

the prosperity or earnings of a place: Further inflation would endanger the national economy seriously.

the disposition or regulation of the parts or functions of any organic whole; an organized system or method.

the efficient, sparing, or concise use of something: an economy of effort; an economy of movement.

economy class.

Theology.

the divine plan for humanity, from creation through redemption to final beatitude.
the method of divine administration, as at a particular time or for a particular race.

Obsolete. the management of household affairs.

adjective

intended to save money: to reduce the staff in an economy move.

costing less to make, buy, or operate: an economy car.

of or relating to economy class: the economy fare to San Francisco.

adverb

in economy-class accommodations, or by economy-class conveyance: to travel economy.

Nearby words

economist, economistic, economize, economizer, economo's disease, economy, economy class, economy of scale, economy-class syndrome, economy-size, ecophysiology

Origin of economy

1520–30; (< Middle French economie) < Latin oeconomia < Greek oikonomíā household management, equivalent to oîko(s) house + -nomia -nomy

SYNONYMS FOR economy

1 thriftiness, thrift, saving.

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ANTONYMS FOR economy

1 lavishness, extravagance, wastefulness.

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Related formsnon·e·con·o·my, noun, plural non·e·con·o·mies.sub·e·con·o·my, noun, plural sub·e·con·o·mies.su·per·e·con·o·my, noun, plural su·per·e·con·o·mies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for economy

Unlike the Soviet Union at a certain period in history, the Russian economy does not hold a candle to that of the United States.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The economy has begun to add jobs, but the quality of those jobs is an increasing concern.
Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy|Monica Potts|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes a column has the economy and rhythm of a short story.
The Best Columns of 2014|John Avlon, Errol Louis|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Improving an economy is a lot harder with only half the population working.
The Women Battling an Islamist Strongman|Christina Asquith|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The irony has thinned with the economy, perhaps: Who can really afford just to pretend to DIY today?
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.|Ana Marie Cox|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am satisfied now that my duties do not lie here, though the dear creatures here will be a constant motive for work and economy.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. I (of 3)|George Eliot
And it is because they serve necessary uses in their own economy that they are found so necessary in the economy of man.
The Quiver 3/1900|Anonymous
Man thirsted and nature satisfied; the economy of the world was thus balanced and all was well.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
One of the street sweepers used to teach in the school until it was shut up for the sake of economy.
Augustus Does His Bit|George Bernard Shaw
In an economy of complete abundance, there is little reason for repair of basic commodities.
Mercenary|Dallas McCord Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for economy

economy

/ (ɪˈkɒnəmɪ) /

noun plural -mies

careful management of resources to avoid unnecessary expenditure or waste; thrift

a means or instance of this; saving

sparing, restrained, or efficient use, esp to achieve the maximum effect for the minimum efforteconomy of language

the complex of human activities concerned with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
a particular type or branch of such production, distribution, and consumptiona socialist economy; an agricultural economy

the management of the resources, finances, income, and expenditure of a community, business enterprise, etc

a class of travel in aircraft, providing less luxurious accommodation than first class at a lower fare
(as modifier)economy class

(modifier) offering or purporting to offer a larger quantity for a lower priceeconomy pack

the orderly interplay between the parts of a system or structurethe economy of nature

philosophy the principle that, of two competing theories, the one with less ontological presupposition is to be preferred

archaic the management of household affairs; domestic economy

Word Origin for economy

C16: via Latin from Greek oikonomia domestic management, from oikos house + -nomia, from nemein to manage

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for economy (1 of 2)

economy

1530s, "household management," from Latin oeconomia, from Greek oikonomia "household management, thrift," from oikonomos "manager, steward," from oikos "house" (cognate with Latin vicus "district," vicinus "near;" Old English wic "dwelling, village;" see villa) + nomos "managing," from nemein "manage" (see numismatics). The sense of "wealth and resources of a country" (short for political economy) is from 1650s.

Word Origin and History for economy (1 of 2)

economy

adj.

as a term in advertising, at first meant simply "cheaper" (1821), then "bigger and thus cheaper per unit or amount" (1950). See economy (n.).

economy