banking
C1Formal and neutral in the financial sense; neutral/informal in the reliance sense.
Definition
Meaning
The business activities of banks; the industry that provides financial services like holding deposits, lending money, and managing payments.
The act of placing one's trust or reliance in something (e.g., 'banking on good weather'). The activity of managing or engaging with a bank's services. In aviation/sports, the act of tilting or turning sharply.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily uncountable noun for the industry. Can be a gerund (verb-noun) from 'to bank'. The extended meaning 'relying on' is phrasal (bank on). The 'tilting' sense is technical/specialized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core meaning. Spelling in compound terms may differ (e.g., 'cheque' vs. 'check' banking). The verb 'to bank' (deposit money) is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In the UK, may historically evoke stronger associations with high-street banks.
Frequency
High frequency in business/finance contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
banking on + noun/gerund (relying)to do/go banking (activity)work in banking (industry)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “banking on a miracle”
- “the banking halls of power”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The banking industry reported record profits this quarter.
Academic
The study examines the deregulation of banking in the 1980s.
Everyday
I do all my banking online now.
Technical
The aircraft's banking angle exceeded 45 degrees.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is banking the cheque at the local branch.
- The government is banking on a swift economic recovery.
American English
- He's banking his check via the mobile app.
- We're banking on good weather for the picnic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I go to the bank for my banking.
- Online banking is very convenient and saves time.
- He is banking on getting a promotion next year.
- The banking sector was heavily affected by the new legislation.
- She built a successful career in international banking.
- Critics argue that shadow banking poses a systemic risk to the global economy.
- The fighter jet executed a steep banking manoeuvre to evade the missile.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BANK with a huge, golden INGot inside – BANK-ING stores and manages valuable things.
Conceptual Metaphor
BANKING IS A STOREHOUSE (for money/trust); BANKING IS A FOUNDATION (of the economy).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'банкинг' (a recent loanword) in all contexts; 'банковское дело' or 'финансовые услуги' might be more natural in Russian.
- Do not confuse with 'bank' as in river bank (берег).
- 'Banking on' = рассчитывать на (rely on), not literally 'хранить в банке'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bank' uncountably for the industry (wrong: 'He works in bank'; correct: 'He works in banking').
- Misspelling as 'bancking'.
- Confusing 'banking' (industry) with 'banks' (specific institutions).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'banking' used in its extended, non-financial sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its primary meaning is financial, it can also mean 'relying on' (banking on someone) or 'tilting' (like an aircraft banking).
Yes, as a gerund ('Doing my banking') or as the present participle of the verb 'to bank' ('She is banking the money').
'Bank' usually refers to the specific institution or building. 'Banking' refers to the industry, activity, or business conducted by banks.
In financial contexts, it is standard and neutral. The phrase 'banking on' is more informal/colloquial.
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