purchasing power
Americannoun
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Also called buying power. the ability to purchase goods and services.
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the value of money in terms of what it can buy at a specified time compared to what it could buy at some period established as a base.
the purchasing power of the dollar.
Etymology
Origin of purchasing power
First recorded in 1815–25
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As I’ve written before, one of the best ways to guard against a loss of purchasing power is with Treasury inflation-protected securities, or TIPS.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Now, those adults have purchasing power to buy tickets or subscribe to streaming platforms.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
Inflation undermines the purchasing power of fixed incomes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
Preserve your purchasing power and keep an eye on your tax brackets.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
“Mass purchasing power makes the big difference. For example, breaded veal cutlets.”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
