hoarding

1 of 2

noun (1)

hoard·​ing ˈhȯr-diŋ 

plural hoardings

1

a

: the practice of collecting or accumulating something (such as money or food)

The hoarding and misuse of resources was uncommon even in times of natural disaster …

—Tanvi Nagpal

b

: something that is hoarded

—usually plural

Inside the net with us was a large brown paper bag, spewing forth the Halloween hoardings of the child in the gorilla suit …

—John Irving

2

psychology : the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress

Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a point that the collections cause stress and start impacting a person's health, career or relationships.

—Erin Allday

People justify hoarding as curating and recycling, deeming odd objects beautiful and useful.

—Peter D. Kramer

see also hoarding disorder

hoarding

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural hoardings

1

: a temporary board fence put about a building being erected or repaired

called also hoard

2

British : billboard

Examples of hoarding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Predictable access to meals and snacks, both at home and in school, rapidly helped reduce his obsession and hoarding of food. —Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

Export restrictions tend to be contagious, triggering panic buying and domestic food hoarding in a process resembling a bank run. —Zach Helder, Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2024

The canines had been part of an animal abuse and hoarding case, in which a couple, identified as Nyal and Renee Piper, were accused of taking in dozens of animals and neglecting them, according to WTAJ and the Associated Press. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024

If this is a case of hoarding — which is classified as a mental disorder and protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act — the court might require some accommodations, such as extra time to resolve the issues at hand. —Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

Trump faces two federal criminal cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith – one over his alleged hoarding of classified documents after leaving office and another over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the lead up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2024

The hoarding pattern starts by getting too much stuff. —Marni Jameson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024

Recent toilet-paper hoarding was more prevalent among Americans than Europeans and more prevalent among the old than the young. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024

For retail, barcode scanners and inventory management software can prevent unnecessary hoarding of surplus stock and warehousing costs. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

hourd, hoard hoarding

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hoarding

• hoarding disorder

Medical Definition

hoarding

noun

hoard·​ing ˈhȯrd-iŋ 

: the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress

Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a point that the collections cause stress and start impacting a person's health, career or relationships.

—Erin Allday

People justify hoarding as curating and recycling, deeming odd objects beautiful and useful.

—Peter D. Kramer

see hoarding disorder