saving

noun sav·ing \ ˈsā-viŋ \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: saving in a Sentence

Definition of saving

1 : preservation from danger or destruction : deliverance

2 : the act or an instance of economizing

3 a savings plural : money put by

b : the excess of income over consumption expenditures —often used in plural

c : a usually specified lower cost —often used in plural

a savings of 50 percent

See saving defined for English-language learners

See saving defined for kids

Examples of saving in a Sentence

The new system will provide a saving in labor.
How much money do you have in savings?
She has her savings in stocks.
They were able to retire on their savings.

Recent Examples of saving from the Web

The median savings among those with retirement accounts is about $147,000, according to a survey by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

— susan moeller, BostonGlobe.com, "Stop giving so much money to your kids, and 8 more ways to afford retirement," 5 June 2018
But the electricity savings are just the beginning.

— david roberts, Vox, "This technology could fundamentally change our relationship to electricity," 5 June 2018
The village board has yet to address what the tax savings would be if Big Bend decides to contract for services or consolidate its fire department.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Could Big Bend's fire department be disbanded, or consolidated? Village officials aren't talking," 1 June 2018
But when they can be used, the savings are significant.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "How Drones Are Revolutionizing the Way Film and Television Is Made," 31 May 2018
Cash College savings sitting in a bank account are worth tapping next.

— adam shell, USA TODAY, "Paying for college: Tips on tapping your kids' college savings without taking a financial hit," 31 May 2018
Don’t assume the cost will be lower on a particular site — the savings are impossible to predict!

— esther trattner, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How to save money on vital medical equipment," 25 May 2018
The savings are unreal and include deals on home goods, men's and women's fashion, kids' clothing, accessories and more.

— anna hecht, CNN Underscored, "Nordstrom is offering markdowns on your favorite shoe brands," 24 May 2018
Daylight saving time has been around about 100 years, but many studies suggest a time switch doesn't save energy, as previously believed.

— seth borenstein, USA TODAY, "Running late? Clocks may go a little cuckoo with change to power grid maintenance rules," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'saving.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of saving

Middle English, from gerund of saven to save

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

saving

preposition

Definition of saving

1 : except, save

2 : without disrespect to

Examples of saving in a Sentence

saving three members, the club is now fully committed to the fund-raising project

Origin and Etymology of saving

Middle English, from present participle of saven

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

saving Synonyms

Synonyms

apart from, aside from, bar, barring, beside, besides, but, except (also excepting), except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, save;

saving

conjunction

Definition of saving

: except, save

Examples of saving in a Sentence

I would be ready, saving the fact that I can't find my missing shoe.

First Known Use of saving

1535

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

saving Synonyms

Synonyms

but, except (also excepting), only, yet;

Financial Definition of SAVING

saving

noun

What It Is

In economics, savings is the amount that is left after spending. In banking, savings refers to savings accounts, which are short-term, interest-bearing deposits with a bank or other financial institution.

How It Works

There are only two things to do with money: Save it or spend it. For example, let's say John Doe's paycheck is $1,600 every two weeks, or $3,200 a month. His expenses are the following:

Rent: $1,300
Car payment: $450
Student loan payment: $450
Credit card payment: $300
Groceries: $250
Utilities: $75
Cell phone: $75
Gas: $100
Total expenses: $3,000

Because John spends $3,000 of his $3,200 income per month, he saves $200.

If John's expenses are higher than his income, he is not saving; he is living paycheck-to-paycheck. If he gets fired, has an emergency or his company closes in two weeks, he would have little backup.

In banking terms, savings accounts are time deposits, meaning that a bank can require the account holder to give notice before withdrawing the funds or impose a penalty for withdrawal before a specified date. The interest rates on savings accounts vary by institution but are generally lower than interest rates on longer-term deposits, such as CDs or even money market accounts. Interest is usually compounded monthly.

Why It Matters

It is dangerous not to save money. Not only is it financially risky, it creates unnecessary stress. To enable savings, John must reduce his expenses so that they are less than his income, and he should make regular, disciplined deposits into a savings and/or investment vehicle.

Ironically, when a country saves so much money that it hardly spends anything, its economy can suffer. This is called the paradox of thrift, which is an economic theory developed by John Maynard Keynes that states that the more people save, the less they spend and thus the less they stimulate the economy.

It is important to note that the interest rate paid on a savings account may be below the inflation rate, meaning that the account actually might lose purchasing power over time despite the interest earned.

Source: Investing Answers