withdrawal
with-DRAW-ul
/wɪðˈdrɔːəl/
The action of taking money out of an account.
In retirement accounts, 'early withdrawal' often carries heavy tax penalties.
The story behind the word. A purely Germanic construction. 'With-' here means 'away' or 'against' (as in 'withstand'). To withdraw is to 'pull away' what was previously placed.
Word relationships
- extraction: Usually refers to physical removal, like a tooth or oil.
- removal: A general term for taking something away.
- deposit: Putting money into an account.
- contribution: Giving money to a fund.
Commonly confused with
- distribution: A withdrawal is initiated by the user; a distribution is often a scheduled payout from a fund.
Word family
- withdraw (verb): To take back or remove.
Collocations
- early withdrawal
- cash withdrawal
- withdrawal penalty
Idioms & expressions
- withdrawal symptoms
Example sentences
- "The bank limits the amount of each withdrawal at the ATM for security reasons." Banking Regulation
- "Making a large withdrawal during a market crash can permanently deplete your nest egg." Retirement Planning
Memory hook
You 'draw' your money 'with' you as you leave the bank. Pulling it back out.
When not to use
Do not use 'withdrawal' for a payment you make into an account.
Fun facts
- The term 'withdrawal symptoms' wasn't used in a medical sense until the early 20th century.
Related words
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