IRA

1 of 2

noun

ˌī-(ˌ)är-ˈā How to pronounce IRA (audio) ˈī-rə How to pronounce IRA (audio)
plural IRAs
: a retirement savings account in which income taxes on certain deposits and on all gains are deferred until withdrawals are made

IRA

2 of 2

abbreviation

Irish Republican Army

Examples of IRA in a Sentence

Abbreviation a representative of the IRA
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
When a child turns 18, the account essentially becomes a traditional IRA. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026 This can be beneficial because traditional IRA withdrawals are generally taxable, while qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free. — John Csiszar, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 However, Trump account beneficiaries can also choose to roll the investment over to a Roth IRA account. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The money generally must go directly from the IRA to the charity. — Ronald Stair, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for IRA

Word History

Etymology

Noun

initialism from individual retirement account or individual retirement arrangement

First Known Use

Noun

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of IRA was in 1974

Rhymes for IRA

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Browse Nearby Words

ir-
IRA
iracund
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Cite this Entry

“IRA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/IRA. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

IRA

noun
ˌī-ˌär-ˈā, ˈī-rə How to pronounce IRA (audio)
: an account in which a person may deposit up to a stipulated amount each year and that is not taxable until retirement or early withdrawal

Note: Deposits to an IRA may not be completely or partially deductible from adjusted gross income if one's income exceeds a set level.

Etymology

Noun

individual retirement account

More from Merriam-Webster on IRA

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about IRA

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