# LISA

/ˈɫisə/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lisa
Updated: 2026-10-01

## Definition

Stands for Lifetime ISA. A special savings account in the UK for people aged 18 to 39. You use it to save for your first home or for when you retire, and the government adds extra money to your savings.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Lifetime ISA. A tax-free individual savings account available to UK residents aged 18 to 39, designed to incentivise long-term saving for a first-time property purchase or retirement. The government provides a 25% bonus on contributions up to a specified annual limit.

## Examples

- I put my savings into a LISA to buy my first flat.
- She maxed out her LISA contribution for the year to ensure she received the full government bonus for her house deposit.
- While the LISA offers a significant government bonus for first-time buyers, the withdrawal penalties for non-qualifying purposes make it a less flexible vehicle for general emergency savings.

## Pitfalls

- Not "an LISA" but "a LISA" — Although it starts with 'L', the acronym is pronounced as a word starting with a consonant sound ('Lee-sa'), so it takes 'a' rather than 'an'.

## Usage notes

- Acronym for Lifetime Individual Savings Account; typically used with the indefinite article 'a' because the acronym is pronounced as a name.

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