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.
"It feels like our purchasing power is shrinking. This is the only way to combat that."
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The dollar has also weakened over the past year and a half, down nearly 10% against the euro since the start of 2025, sapping the purchasing power of travelers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
The disparity means that US workers have, on average, lost purchasing power, with their wages not keeping up with price rises.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
The iPhone maker has also leaned into its purchasing power to negotiate favorable long-term pricing agreements with component providers.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
Their increased purchasing power afforded them summer vacations to the beach or the mountains.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
