purchasing power
noun
1
: the amount of money that a person or group has available to spend
Inflation decreases consumer purchasing power.
2
: the value of money thought of as how much it can buy
a decline in the purchasing power of the dollar
Examples of purchasing power in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The country also ranks highest on the continent for quality of life, according to Numbeo, which evaluates factors such as safety, purchasing power, healthcare, climate, and pollution.
—
Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The dollars were preserved, but purchasing power slowly eroded.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, many retirees in the Florida Retirement System see their pensions lose purchasing power because the traditional 3% cost-of-living adjustment was reduced or eliminated in 2011.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Backed by more than 700 procurement experts and over $35 billion in purchasing power and growing, Foodbuy helps operators strengthen supply chain resilience by serving as a strategic procurement partner to hospitality, foodservice, healthcare, and education organizations.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purchasing power
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The dollars were preserved, but purchasing power slowly eroded.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, many retirees in the Florida Retirement System see their pensions lose purchasing power because the traditional 3% cost-of-living adjustment was reduced or eliminated in 2011.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Backed by more than 700 procurement experts and over $35 billion in purchasing power and growing, Foodbuy helps operators strengthen supply chain resilience by serving as a strategic procurement partner to hospitality, foodservice, healthcare, and education organizations.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purchasing power
Cite this Entry
“Purchasing power.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purchasing%20power. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
