vested
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vested
Explanation
If you have a vested interest in something, you have a personal stake in its success. You have a vested interest in your science project — if your invention works, you could be rich and famous. Vested can also refer to something assigned to you. When a minister says "by the power vested in me by the State of Ohio, I now pronounce you husband and wife," he's referring to the legal authority he’s been given to marry people. Vested can also be a financial term. If you’re vested in your company's pension plan after working there 5 years, then even if you quit at 5 years, that pension money is yours to take with you.
Vocabulary lists containing vested
Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
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Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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Eyes Wide Open
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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.
Unauthorized distributions can disqualify a plan, causing severe financial consequences, including immediate income taxes and any applicable penalties for employees on their vested balances.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
"Our manifesto did talk about the redistribution of power, it did talk about the rewiring of our country, it did talk about taking on some of those vested interests," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
“All the parties have a vested interest in honesty, and in a good user experience.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Robinhood said the full 2019 award vested only after company shares more than doubled from its 2021 IPO price.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
We provided them with information about people working against their vested interests.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
