nest egg

American  

noun

1. money saved and held in reserve for emergencies, retirement, etc.

2. a natural or artificial egg placed in a nest to induce a hen to continue laying eggs there.

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nest egg British  

noun

1. a fund of money kept in reserve; savings

2. a natural or artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay their eggs in it

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Etymology

Origin of nest egg

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nest egg

Are your two advisers just trying to keep your money in stocks so they can increase your nest egg and profit off bigger management fees?

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

With grandma’s nest egg and mom and dad’s retirement tied up in a young couple’s first home, even a slight chill in property valuations causes an arctic frost on consumer sentiment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

By the Labor Department’s own math, 1% in additional fees can shrink someone’s nest egg at retirement by 28%.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

Kessler, 24, agreed to a four-year, $130 million contract, not a bad nest egg for newlyweds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Joan had been collecting Regina’s checks and then banking them for her so that she’d have a small nest egg when she returned to the United States.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• cache
• reserve fund
• savings
• savings account
• stash
• stockpile