English Reference

Word

IRA

Phoneticsira

/ˈaɪɹə/

Definitions

01US retirement account

B2 · Finance

n. Stands for Individual Retirement Account. A type of savings account in the US that helps you save money for when you stop working, often with tax benefits.

n. Abbreviation for Individual Retirement Account. A tax-advantaged personal savings plan in the United States that allows individuals to set aside money for retirement.

“He decided to put five thousand dollars into his IRA before the tax deadline.”

“Financial advisors often recommend diversifying assets within a Roth IRA to maximise long-term tax-free growth for younger investors.”

American English

Usage

Usually treated as a countable noun; often preceded by 'Roth' or 'Traditional'.

Synonyms

pension planretirement fund

02Irish paramilitary group

B2

n. Stands for Irish Republican Army. A group that used force to try to make Northern Ireland leave the UK and join the Republic of Ireland.

n. Abbreviation for Irish Republican Army. A paramilitary organisation seeking the end of British rule in Northern Ireland and the unification of the island.

“The history book explained the role of the IRA during the Troubles in Ireland.”

“The peace process required all paramilitary groups, including the IRA, to commit to a permanent ceasefire and the decommissioning of weapons.”

British English

Usage

Usually preceded by the definite article 'the'.

Synonyms

republicansparamilitaries

03US climate and tax law

C1

n. Stands for Inflation Reduction Act. A major US law passed in 2022 to help the environment, lower healthcare costs, and change tax rules.

n. Abbreviation for Inflation Reduction Act. A landmark 2022 United States federal law aimed at curbing inflation through deficit reduction and investing in domestic energy production.

“The new IRA law provides tax credits for families who buy electric cars.”

“Economists debated the long-term impact of the IRA on domestic manufacturing and its efficacy in reducing carbon emissions across the industrial sector.”

American English · Academic

Usage

Usually preceded by the definite article 'the'.

Real-World Examples

“It’s intense and gripping: the team struggle to persuade any witnesses (there were more than 150) to come forward and gradually realise that they are, in fact, investigating the leadership of the New IRA.”
The Guardian · 26 Aug 2026

Domains

FinanceInternetPolitics

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference