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

The cost to smaller employers would be offset by a new auto IRA tax credit for those businesses. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025

The best way to avoid taxes on Social Security benefits is to limit your income by investing with a Roth IRA while saving. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

On top of that, beneficiaries would also face the 10% IRA withdrawal penalty if money is used for non-qualifying expenses. —Ben Steverman, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025

Tapping retirement accounts to pay off debt usually backfires When faced with mounting credit card balances, many retirees consider withdrawing from their 401(k), IRA or other retirement accounts to eliminate the debt. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

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