: a retirement account to which employee and employer contribute, on which taxes are deferred until withdrawal, and for which the employee usually selects the types of investments

Word History

Etymology

from the section of the Internal Revenue Code that established it

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of 401(k) was in 1980

Dictionary Entries Near 401(k)

Cite this Entry

“401(k).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/401%28k%29. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!