hoarding

¹ American  

[hawr-ding] / ˈhɔr dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or animal that hoards.

   Depression-era hoarding, when gold coins disappeared from circulation;

   the hoarding of nuts by chipmunks.

2. hoardings, things that are hoarded.

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hoarding ² American  

[hawr-ding, hohr-] / ˈhɔr dɪŋ, ˈhoʊr- /

noun

1. a temporary fence enclosing a construction site.

2. British. a billboard.

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hoarding British  

/ ˈhɔːdɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called (esp US and Canadian): billboard.  a large board used for displaying advertising posters, as by a road

2. a temporary wooden fence erected round a building or demolition site

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Etymology

Origin of hoarding¹

First recorded in 1585–95; hoard + -ing ¹

Origin of hoarding²

First recorded in 1815–25; obsolete hoard (from Old French hourd(e) “palisade made of hurdles,” from Germanic; compare German Hürde “hurdle”) + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

This pivotal moment that’s had them hoarding assets and fencing off their financial flexibility.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

On Sunday, Marcos also warned the public against hoarding diesel, saying that only consumers with legitimate operational needs may store fuel to sustain essential services and daily operations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

“I’d argue this is a rainy day—I don’t know what we’re hoarding the money for.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Many migrant workers lack documentation needed for subsidised LPG and rely on informal markets, where hoarding has pushed up prices.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

The boy's hand hovered over a button, and his lips bore a cheeky Mona Lisa smile, as if he were hoarding all the secrets of the universe and would never share.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• accretion
• aggregation
• buildup
• growth
• inflation
• pile
• quantity