/i kon"euh mee/ , n. , pl. economies , adj. , adv.
n.
1. thrifty management; frugality in the expenditure or consumption of money, materials, etc.
2. an act or means of thrifty saving; a saving: He achieved a small economy by walking to work instead of taking a bus.
3. the management of the resources of a community, country, etc., esp. with a view to its productivity.
4. the prosperity or earnings of a place: Further inflation would endanger the national economy seriously.
5. the disposition or regulation of the parts or functions of any organic whole; an organized system or method.
6. the efficient, sparing, or concise use of something: an economy of effort; an economy of movement.
7. See economy class .
8. Theol.
a. the divine plan for humanity, from creation through redemption to final beatitude.
b. the method of divine administration, as at a particular time or for a particular race.
9. Obs. the management of household affairs.
adj.
10. intended to save money: to reduce the staff in an economy move.
11. costing less to make, buy, or operate: an economy car.
12. of or pertaining to economy class: the economy fare to San Francisco.
adv.
13. in economy-class accommodations, or by economy-class conveyance: to travel economy.
[ 1520-30; ( economie ) oeconomia oikonomía household management, equiv. to oîko ( s ) house + -nomia -NOMY ]
Syn. 1. thriftiness, thrift, saving.
Ant. 1. lavishness, extravagance, wastefulness.