economy

1 of 2

noun

econ·​o·​my i-ˈkä-nə-mē 

ə-, 

ē-

plural economies

1

: the structure or conditions of economic life in a country, area, or period

also : an economic system

2

a

: thrifty and efficient use of material resources : frugality in expenditures

also : an instance or a means of economizing : saving

b

: efficient and concise use of nonmaterial resources (such as effort, language, or motion)

3

a

: the arrangement or mode of operation of something : organization

b

: a system especially of interaction and exchange

an economy of information

4

archaic : the management of household or private affairs and especially expenses

economy

2 of 2

adjective

: designed to save money

economy cars

Synonyms of economy

Noun

• saving
• frugality
• thrift

Examples of economy in a Sentence

Noun

The war altered the country's economy.

An increase in tourism will help the city's economy.

We must learn to practice economy.

We'll also benefit from the economies provided by more efficient energy sources.

It would be false economy to repair the leak without replacing the pipe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The biggest threat to the global economy and US stocks is an oil supply disruption, but the probability of a prolonged effect is low so far, analysts said. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026

The flagship Semafor World Economy, anchored in Washington DC, is the largest annual gathering of top global CEOs in North America, and Semafor’s convening on emerging economies, The Next Three Billion, is held annually at UNGA and expanded this year to South Africa, East Africa, and UAE. —Rachel Keidan, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Each anniversary is a yardstick used to measure Americans’ fidelity to or betrayal of the nation’s founding principles, its people’s moral progress or decay, its economy’s growth or decline, and the strength or weakness of civil society, of democracy, of freedom, of equality. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

The Spark program utilizes gig-economy workers as drivers that fulfill deliveries for Walmart customers by picking up products from the retailer’s stores, or other retailers that contract with Walmart. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English yconomye, borrowed from Middle French yconomie, economie, borrowed from Medieval Latin yconomia, economia, oekonomia (Late Latin, "organization of the Trinity, plan, dispensation," Latin oeconomia "arrangement of material by an author,"), borrowed from Greek oikonomía "management of a household, direction, arrangement," from oikonómos "manager of a household, steward," (from oîkos "house" + -nomos, noun derivative of némein "to have management or control of, rule, direct") + -ia -y entry 2 — more at vicinity, nimble

Adjective

from attributive use of economy entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Adjective

1821, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing economy

• command economy
• economy of scale
• false economy
• fuel economy
• gift economy
• gig economy
• market economy
• mixed economy
• political economy
• sharing economy
• sub-economy
• the economy

Rhymes for economy

• aeronomy
• agronomy
• astronomy
• autonomy
• gastronomy
• metonymy
• taxonomy
• deuteronomy

Kids Definition

economy

noun

econ·​o·​my

i-ˈkän-ə-mē

plural economies

1

: careful use of money and goods : thrift

2

: a special arrangement or system : organization

3

: the way an economic system (as of a country or a period in history) is arranged

Etymology

Noun

derived from Greek oikonomos "household manager," from oikos "house" and nemein "to manage"

Medical Definition

economy

noun

econ·​o·​my i-ˈkän-ə-mē 

plural economies

1

: the system of operation of the processes of anabolism and catabolism in living bodies

the economy of the cell

2

: the body of an animal or plant as an organized whole

disorganizing wide segments of the body economy

—Leonard Engel