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economy

Meaning in simple English

US /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/ · UK /ɪˈkɒnəmi/

economy means: The way a country or community uses resources, produces goods, and earns and spends money.

noun

ECONOMIC SYSTEMB1

The way a country or community uses resources, produces goods, and earns and spends money.

  • The economy is growing.
  • Tourism supports the local economy.
  • Many businesses struggled when the economy slowed down.

Similar words: economic system

Common phrases: global economy, local economy, economy grows, strong economy

CHEAPER TRAVEL SECTIONB1

The section of a plane or train with standard seats and lower ticket prices.

  • Our seats are in economy.
  • Economy was full on that flight.
  • They upgraded us from economy to business class.

Similar words: economy class, coach

Common phrases: in economy, economy class, economy seats, economy ticket

CAREFUL RESOURCE USEC1

Careful use of money, time, or materials so that little is wasted.

  • Economy was essential because money was scarce.
  • The new car offers better fuel economy.
  • For reasons of economy, we share an office.

How to use it: economy of something (Her writing shows great economy of words.)

Similar words: thrift, frugality

Opposites: waste, extravagance

Common phrases: fuel economy, economy of words, reasons of economy, practise economy

FREE MARKET SYSTEMB2

A system in which businesses compete freely and prices depend mainly on what people buy and sell.

  • The country has a market economy.
  • Prices change freely in a market economy.
  • They moved from state control toward a market economy.

Similar words: market system, free enterprise system

Opposites: planned economy

Common phrases: market economy, free market economy, competitive market economy

DIVINE PLANC2

The way God orders and guides the world, according to religious teaching.

  • The book explores the divine economy.
  • The theologian described God's economy as a plan for humanity.
  • They discussed the role of grace in the economy of salvation.

Similar words: divine plan

Common phrases: divine economy, economy of salvation, God's economy

adjective

LOW COSTB2

Costing little to buy or use, or giving a lot for the money spent.

  • We bought an economy car.
  • The economy pack contains twice as much soap.
  • They chose the economy model to save money.

Similar words: economical, budget, low-cost

Opposites: expensive

Common phrases: economy car, economy pack, economy size, economy model

adverb

TRAVEL CHEAP CLASSB1

In the standard, lower-priced section of a passenger plane.

  • We usually fly economy.
  • She travelled economy to keep costs down.
  • Would you fly economy on such a long flight?

Similar words: economy class, coach

Common phrases: fly economy, travel economy, always fly economy

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