IRA

1 of 2

noun

ˌī-(ˌ)är-ˈā  ˈī-rə 

plural IRAs

: a retirement savings account in which income taxes on certain deposits and on all gains are deferred until withdrawals are made

IRA

2 of 2

abbreviation

Irish Republican Army

Examples of IRA in a Sentence

Abbreviation

a representative of the IRA

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ira Hayes was Native American, so IRA's named after Ira Hayes because Ira Hayes was friends with my dad. —Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2026

Each January, Stoever makes a maximum contribution to a Roth IRA and plunks another chunk of cash in a solo 401(k). —Ryan Ermey lauren Shamo, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026

Exposure to a physical asset Unlike stocks or ETFs, a gold IRA holds physical metal. —Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026

This can mean buying physical gold and silver, opening a silver or gold IRA, or buying gold or silver stocks or ETFs. —Aly J Yale, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

initialism from individual retirement account or individual retirement arrangement

First Known Use

Noun

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for IRA

• lyra
• spirogyra

Legal Definition

IRA

noun

ˌī-ˌär-ˈā, ˈī-rə 

: an account in which a person may deposit up to a stipulated amount each year and that is not taxable until retirement or early withdrawal

Note: Deposits to an IRA may not be completely or partially deductible from adjusted gross income if one's income exceeds a set level.

Etymology

Noun

individual retirement account