Definition

1. Noun:

   • An act of economizing; reduction in cost: The act of preventing waste of money, resources, or time, resulting in a lower expenditure.
   • The activity of protecting something from loss or danger: The act of rescuing, preserving, or safeguarding something or someone from harm, destruction, or loss.
   • (plural: savings) Money that has been saved and set aside for future use: Funds accumulated by not spending all of one's income.

2. Adjective:

   • Characterized by thriftiness; economical: Describing a person or action that avoids waste and uses resources carefully.
   • Bringing about salvation or redemption: (Theological/formal) Having the power to save or redeem, especially from sin or spiritual danger.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Act of economizing):
  • Buying in bulk resulted in a significant saving.
  • The new energy-efficient design offers a saving on power bills.
• Noun (Activity of protecting):
  • The saving of the ancient forest was a community priority.
  • His quick action was instrumental in the saving of lives.
• Noun (Money set aside):
  • She keeps her savings in a bank account.
  • They used their life savings to buy a house.
• Adjective (Thrifty):
  • He has a saving habit and rarely buys unnecessary things.
  • A saving mindset is essential for financial independence.
• Adjective (Redemptive):
  • They believed in the saving grace of their faith. (Formal/Theological)

Advanced Usage

• "A saving grace": A single positive quality that makes an otherwise bad or mediocre thing acceptable.
  • The hotel was basic, but its friendly staff was its saving grace.
• Prepositional Phrase "with a saving of...": Used to indicate the amount of money, time, or resources preserved.
  • The project was completed with a saving of three weeks.

Variants and Related Words

• Save (verb): To keep money, to rescue, or to prevent waste.
  • I save a portion of my salary every month.
• Saver (noun): A person who saves money, or a device that reduces consumption.
  • She is a diligent saver. / This is a great energy saver.
• Savings account (noun phrase): A bank account that earns interest, used for saving money.
  • I opened a savings account for my child.

Synonyms

• Noun (Economizing): Economy, conservation, thrift.
• Noun (Rescuing): Rescue, preservation, deliverance.
• Adjective (Thrifty): Economical, frugal, sparing.

Related Phrases

• Saving face: Avoiding humiliation or preserving one's dignity.
  • He apologized just to save face in front of his colleagues.
• Saving for a rainy day: Saving money for future emergencies or needs.
  • It's wise to start saving for a rainy day early in your career.

Idioms

• Penny saved is a penny earned: Money that you save is as valuable as money that you earn.
  • He always repairs things himself, believing a penny saved is a penny earned.
• To be on saving(s) mode: To be actively trying to spend less money.
  • We're on savings mode this year for our big vacation.

Adjective

1. characterized by thriftiness
   • wealthy by inheritance but saving by constitution- Ellen Glasgow
2. bringing about salvation or redemption from sin
   • saving faith
   • redemptive (or redeeming) love

Noun

1. the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
2. recovery or preservation from loss or danger
   • work is the deliverance of mankind
   • a surgeon's job is the saving of lives
3. an act of economizing; reduction in cost
   • it was a small economy to walk to work every day
   • there was a saving of 50 cents