pension

1 of 2

noun

pen·​sion ˈpen(t)-shən 

1

ˈpen(t)-shən  : a fixed sum paid regularly to a person:

a

archaic : wage

b

: a gratuity granted (as by a government) as a favor or reward

c

: one paid under given conditions to a person following retirement from service or to surviving dependents

2

\ päⁿ-​ˈsyōⁿ \ [French, from Middle French]

a

: accommodations especially at a continental European hotel or boardinghouse : room and board

b

or less commonly pensione

pen(t)-ˈsyō-(ˌ)nā 

[pensione, from Italian] : a hotel or boardinghouse especially in continental Europe

pensionless

ˈpen(t)-shən-ləs 

adjective

pension

2 of 2

verb

pensioned; pensioning ˈpen(t)-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to grant or pay a pension to

2

: to dismiss or retire from service with a pension

pensioned off his faithful old servant

Examples of pension in a Sentence

Noun

Her pension arrives in the mail every month.

retired people living on their pensions

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Worsening this mayor’s position is his team including the pension payment in his 2024 budget with the assumption CPS would reimburse the city. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

Barco was told that his burns and hearing loss qualified him for an honorable medical retirement from the Army, which would leave him with a lifelong pension and free healthcare with the VA. —Quil Lawrence, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025

Verb

The plans kick in on Nov. 1 and apply to eligible state and local law enforcement, firefighters, emergency response personnel, pensioned retirees, as well as parents, children, or spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty. —Edward C. Baig, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2019

Probably to help the dangerous situation in the northwest, a local aristocrat, Sir William Brereton managed to have the Abbot’s death sentence cancelled and he and his canons were pensioned off with the closure of Norton Abbey. —James Rogers, Fox News, 2 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pension-, pensio, from pendere to pay — more at pendant

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pension

• pension fund
• pension off
• pension plan
• pension scheme

Rhymes for pension

• gentian
• mention
• tension
• apprehension
• comprehension
• condescension
• hypertension
• hypotension
• reinvention
• reprehension
• resuspension
• attention

Kids Definition

pension

1 of 2 noun

pen·​sion ˈpen-chən 

: a sum paid regularly to a person especially following retirement or to surviving dependents

pension

2 of 2 verb

pensioned; pensioning ˈpench-(ə-)niŋ 

: to pay a pension to

Legal Definition

pension

noun

pen·​sion

: money paid under given conditions to a person following retirement or to surviving dependents see also defined benefit plan, defined contribution plan