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

Participants were given a large enough nest egg to cover living expenses.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

"The market needs stability and savers need to feel encouraged to build a nest egg."

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

But it isn’t an especially useful buffer for your nest egg either, notes Cullen Roche, founder of Discipline Funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

A 40-year-old in 1980 who put a chunk of their nest egg into gold only would have broken even last year, two decades into retirement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 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