hoarding

1 of 2

noun (1)

hoard·​ing ˈhȯr-diŋ 

plural hoardings

1

a

: the practice of collecting or accumulating something (such as money or food)

The hoarding and misuse of resources was uncommon even in times of natural disaster …

—Tanvi Nagpal

b

: something that is hoarded

—usually plural

Inside the net with us was a large brown paper bag, spewing forth the Halloween hoardings of the child in the gorilla suit …

—John Irving

2

psychology : the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress

Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a point that the collections cause stress and start impacting a person's health, career or relationships.

—Erin Allday

People justify hoarding as curating and recycling, deeming odd objects beautiful and useful.

—Peter D. Kramer

see also hoarding disorder

hoarding

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural hoardings

1

: a temporary board fence put about a building being erected or repaired

called also hoard

2

British : billboard

Examples of hoarding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Recent toilet-paper hoarding was more prevalent among Americans than Europeans and more prevalent among the old than the young. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Some people engaging in food hoarding behaviors may isolate out of shame or feel more comfortable being around food versus being out in public. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 21 June 2024

Harper is a totally different dog than the pup rescued from a hoarding case several years ago. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024

Forty parrots are safe in Nashville after they were saved from Kentucky in an animal hoarding case. —Axios Nashville, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

hourd, hoard hoarding

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hoarding

• hoarding disorder

Medical Definition

hoarding

noun

hoard·​ing ˈhȯrd-iŋ 

: the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress

Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a point that the collections cause stress and start impacting a person's health, career or relationships.

—Erin Allday

People justify hoarding as curating and recycling, deeming odd objects beautiful and useful.

—Peter D. Kramer

see hoarding disorder