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.

---

hoarding ² American  

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

noun

1. a temporary fence enclosing a construction site.

2. British. a billboard.

---

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

---

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

“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

Kenya's energy ministry on Wednesday denied that there was a shortage of fuel, accusing retailers of hoarding the commodity in anticipation of higher prices.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

In Europe, Slovakia’s government on Wednesday allowed service stations to limit diesel sales, and set higher prices for cars with foreign plates as it clamps down on fuel tourism and hoarding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

I've helped transform the apartment of a single, lazy, hoarding hermit into a family's living space.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Related Words

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