saving

plural savings

1. countableuncountableA reduction in cost or expenditure.

   The shift of the supplier gave us a saving of 10 percent.

   1 more example

   This new yard will replace a group of out-of-date yards, and there will be an estimated net saving of £150,000 a year.

   1954 August, “Marshalling Yard Reorganisation, Eastern Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 570

2. countableplural normallySomething (usually money) that is saved, particularly money that has been set aside for the future.

   I invested all my savings in gold.

   2 more examples

   The collapse of Enron wiped out the life savings of many people, leaving them poor in their retirement.

   “Rather than writing off both jets as a loss … teams made a bold decision in 2022 to remove the nose from AF-27 and put it onto AF-211 to maximize savings and add back an operational aircraft to the fleet,” a report from the F-35 JPO said.

   2025 April 10, Brad Lendon, “‘Frankenjet’ stealth fighter made from two wrecked warplanes joins US Air Force fleet”, in CNN

3. uncountableThe action of the verb to save.
4. countableobsoleteuncountablelawException; reservation.

   saving and transitional provisions

   1 more example

   Tis Good Advice not to Contend with Thoſe that are too Strong for us, but ſtill with a ſaving to Honeſty and Juſtice, for the Integrity of the Mind must be ſupported againſt All Violence and Hazzards whatſoever.

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Abstemius, &c.] Fab[le] CCLVIII. A Swallow and a Spider.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 225

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of save

comparative more saving · superlative most saving

1. lifestyleThat saves someone from damnation; redemptive.First known use 14th c.
2. Preserving; rescuing.

   He is the saving strength of his anointed.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 28:8

3. Thrifty; frugal.First known use 15th c.

   Hutchins has been a saving man all his life, and he has received good wages. Among his class he is regarded as wealthy. I daresay that he has five hundred pounds in the bank.

   1914, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados

   1 more example

   Three of her bairns were drowned at sea, fishing off the Bervie braes they had been, but the fourth, the boy Cospatric, him that died the same day as the Old Queen, he was douce and saving and sensible, and set putting the estate to rights.

   1932, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song (A Scots Quair), Polygon, published 2006, page 14

4. Bringing back in returns or in receipts the sum expended; incurring no loss, though not gainful.

   a saving bargain

   1 more example

   The ship has made a saving voyage.

5. Making reservation or exception.

   a saving clause

6. in compoundsRelating to making a saving.

   labour-saving

   1 more example

   energy-saving light bulbs

1. Synonym of save (“except for”)

   And in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 2:17

   Synonyms: save

2. Without disrespect to.

   Saving your presence.

   a. 1796, Robert Burns, The Carle of Kellyburn Braes

   1 more example

   I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 167, column 2