gold reserve: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Economic, Financial
Quick answer
What does “gold reserve” mean?
The physical stock of gold held by a nation's central bank or government.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The physical stock of gold held by a nation's central bank or government.
A substantial and secure financial asset held as a guarantee of monetary stability and creditworthiness; metaphorically, any valuable asset held in reserve.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form; spelling of related terms may vary (e.g., 'centralise' vs. 'centralize').
Connotations
Identical in both varieties: signifies national economic strength and stability.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media due to historical prominence of the Bank of England and London gold market.
Grammar
How to Use “gold reserve” in a Sentence
[National Bank] holds [quantity] in gold reserves.The country's gold reserves are [adjective].to [verb] gold reservesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gold reserve” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Bank is looking to gold-reserve a portion of its new assets.
- They decided to gold-reserve their strategic fund.
American English
- The Treasury plans to gold-reserve some of the stabilization funds.
- They gold-reserved the emergency endowment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Analysts monitor changes in a nation's gold reserves as an indicator of economic policy.
Academic
The study examines the correlation between gold reserve levels and currency volatility in emerging markets.
Everyday
I heard on the news that our national gold reserves have increased.
Technical
The repricing of the gold reserve led to a revaluation gain on the central bank's balance sheet.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gold reserve”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gold reserve”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gold reserve”
- Using uncountable form: 'The government has a lot of gold reserve.' (Incorrect) -> '...has large gold reserves.' (Correct)
- Confusing 'gold reserve' (institutional) with 'gold savings' (personal).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. 'The gold reserve is growing' (singular concept). 'Our gold reserves are stored securely' (plural, referring to the stock).
Typically, they are owned by the nation's central bank or treasury and are considered a national asset.
Not in the official sense. A company might hold 'gold assets' or 'gold stocks,' but the term 'gold reserve' is reserved for sovereign or central banking contexts.
Gold reserves are specifically holdings of physical gold. Foreign exchange reserves are holdings of other currencies and liquid assets. Gold reserves are often a component of the broader foreign exchange reserves.
The physical stock of gold held by a nation's central bank or government.
Gold reserve is usually formal, economic, financial in register.
Gold reserve: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊld rɪˌzɜːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊld rɪˌzɜːrv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[something] is the country's gold reserve (metaphorical for a valuable resource)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GOLD RESERVE: Think of a country's financial 'rainy day' savings, stored not as cash but as shining, tangible gold bars in a heavily-guarded vault.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A SOLID, DENSE METAL (gold); FINANCIAL SECURITY IS A FORTRESS (reserve).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a national gold reserve?