saver

saver — noun

1. a person who regularly sets income aside instead of spending it, typically by de

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who regularly sets income aside instead of spending it, typically by depositing money into a bank account, pension fund, or other savings plan for future use.

Example

Nkechi has been a careful saver since she started working, putting aside 15% of each paycheck.

collocation: careful saver

The credit union offers a bonus rate for savers who keep their accounts open for over five years.

collocation: long-term saver

Common collocations
  • careful saver
  • long-term saver
  • disciplined saver
  • regular saver
  • young saver
Synonyms
  • depositor

    more formal; emphasises putting money into a bank account rather than the habit of saving

  • economizer

    focuses on spending less rather than intentionally setting money aside for future use

  • thrift

    dated or literary term for someone who manages money carefully

Antonyms
  • spender

    someone who uses money freely without restraint

  • wastrel

    formal or literary term for someone who wastes money or resources

Grammar Patterns

adjective + saver (e.g., careful saver, long-term saver)

Usage Note

Frequently combined with adjectives that describe saving behaviour, such as careful, regular, disciplined, long-term, or young.

Common Mistakes

He is a saver person who never wastes money.
He is a saver who never wastes money.
'saver' already describes a person; adding 'person' is redundant.

2. any item, method, or piece of equipment designed to cut the amount of money or o

2.nounB2
Definition

any item, method, or piece of equipment designed to cut the amount of money or other resources you normally use — for instance, a low-energy fridge that lowers your power bill or reusable containers that reduce throw-away packaging.

Example

Solar panels turned out to be a great saver on the Lins' electricity bills.

collocation: a great saver

This new washing machine is a real saver of both water and electricity.

pattern: saver of + [resource]

Common collocations
  • real saver
  • great saver
  • energy saver
  • water saver
  • saver of
Synonyms
  • economizer

    can refer to a device that reduces resource use; more technical

  • money-saver

    more specific; explicitly names the resource being saved

  • labor-saving device

    narrower; only about saving physical effort rather than any resource

Antonyms
  • waster

    a product or habit that uses resources inefficiently

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + saver

saver + of + [resource]

Usage Note

Subject is usually a product, tool, or method. Often preceded by an adjective such as real, great, or surprising to emphasise the benefit.

3. used as a suffix after a noun to describe something that allows you to use less

3.nounB2
Definition

used as a suffix after a noun to describe something that allows you to use less of the thing mentioned — for example, a time-saver reduces the time needed to do a task, and a labour-saver reduces the physical effort required.

Example

The new online check-in system is a real time-saver for travellers in a hurry at the airport.

compound: time-saver

A dishwasher is a wonderful labour-saver in a household of six people eating three meals at home.

compound: labour-saver

Common collocations
  • time-saver
  • labour-saver
  • money-saver
  • energy-saver
  • space-saver

Grammar Patterns

[resource noun] + -saver (e.g., time-saver, labour-saver, money-saver)

Usage Note

Always appears as the second element of a compound noun, preceded by the resource being saved (time, money, labour, energy, space, etc.). The compound can be written with or without a hyphen, though the hyphenated form is more common in British English.

Common Mistakes

This app is a saver time.
This app is a time-saver.
The resource word must come before 'saver', not after.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Saver is the most general, everyday term for someone who puts money aside regularly — it carries no particular formality and works in almost any context. Depositor is more formal and specifically refers to the act of placing money in a bank or financial institution; you would use it when discussing banking relationships rather than personal habits. Economizer shifts focus from saving for the future to spending less in the present — it describes someone who avoids waste or cuts corners, often with a slightly negative connotation of stinginess. Thrift is a literary or dated word that suggests a virtuous, almost moral commitment to frugality; it appears in idioms like 'thrift shop' but rarely in modern casual speech about personal finance. For a learner choosing which to use: 'saver' is safe for any situation; use 'depositor' in formal banking contexts; avoid 'thrift' in everyday conversation.

saver ↗depositoreconomizerthrift

Common collocations

Nouns

  • saver account
  • saver habit
  • saver behaviour
  • saver rate

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a saver of
  • be a saver

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'saver' comes from the verb 'save', which entered Middle English from Old French 'sauver' (to keep safe, rescue), ultimately from Latin 'salvare' (to keep safe), derived from 'salvus' (safe). The '-er' suffix was added to form an agent noun meaning 'one who saves'. The financial meaning of 'save' — to keep money for future use — developed in the 16th century. By the 19th century, the compound suffix use arose alongside industrialization, as new machines and products were marketed as 'labour-savers' and 'time-savers', extending the word beyond money to any resource.