retirement

1 of 2

noun

re·​tire·​ment ri-ˈtī(-ə)r-mənt How to pronounce retirement (audio)
1
a
: an act of retiring : the state of being retired
b
: withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from active working life
c
: the age at which one normally retires
reaches retirement in May
2
: a place of seclusion or privacy

retirement

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or designed for retired persons

Examples of retirement in a Sentence

Noun She decided to take an early retirement. Many fans were surprised by the champion's retirement. The staff is smaller because of several retirements. I'm looking forward to retirement. He is ready for retirement. He came out of retirement to play baseball again. She has remained very active during retirement. The staff all wished her a long and happy retirement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The department is losing more officers to retirement and resignations — 144 in 2022 and 118 in 2023. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024 With the retirement of former Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, the most likely swing vote on the court is now Cincinnati Republican Patrick Fischer. Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024 But the industry needs to bring on more than 700,000 new workers a year because so many people are leaving field, mainly due to retirements, said Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders. Tami Luhby, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Generally, happiness is greatest among young people and drops to its lowest around middle age (40-60) before climbing up again as people reach retirement and old age – a phenomenon commonly called the U-shape. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 One estimate suggests that in the past four years, roughly 10,000 pilots have left the commercial airline industry, as many airlines offered early retirement to employees during the shutdown and pre-vaccine periods, when fewer people were traveling. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 Annual retirement expenses in Washington are $66,895. Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2024 For years, aging Americans have looked south to Florida for their ideal retirement home to escape into retirement from their four-decade grinds in the U.S. workforce. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024 Economic Battle Lines: Biden’s $7.3 trillion budget for the next fiscal year offered the nation a glimpse of the diverging directions that retirement programs, taxes, trade and energy policy could take depending on the outcome of the election. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Targeting a 4 percent withdrawal rate from retirement savings, my post-retirement income will be about the same as my current income, less current savings contributions. Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 Those items, which the UAW said came as a result of bargaining, include a retirement incentive program (UAW Local 1268, in a Facebook post put the figure at $50,000), pre-retirement leave for those within two years of retirement and a voluntary termination of employment program. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 2023 Ann’s post-retirement list includes trying new things. Dallas News, 20 Mar. 2023 Public employees also have access to a wide range of non-retirement benefits. Christian Weller, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023 Keep in mind, this only works for non-retirement accounts. Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2023 Of all the things Ann is doing post-retirement, though, spending time with her grandkids ranks No. 1. Dallas News, 20 Mar. 2023 Calipari, meanwhile, could not take his post-retirement job until next summer. Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2023 That don’t have post-retirement health care. Tom Kertscher, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retirement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of retirement was in 1536

Dictionary Entries Near retirement

Cite this Entry

“Retirement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retirement. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

retirement

1 of 2 noun
re·​tire·​ment ri-ˈtī(ə)r-mənt How to pronounce retirement (audio)
: an act of retiring : the state of being retired
especially : the leaving of one's job permanently

retirement

2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or made for retired persons
a retirement community

More from Merriam-Webster on retirement

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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