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Prepositions with retirement

For retirement, of retirement, or in retirement?

Use for retirement for purpose or planning, and in retirement for life after leaving work. Of retirement is usually part of a longer noun phrase such as age of retirement.

Quick answer

Common uses of retirement

For retirement usually expresses preparation or saving. In retirement describes someone's life after they stop working. Of retirement is less common on its own and normally appears in fixed phrases such as age of retirement or benefits of retirement.

She is saving for retirement.
He stayed active in retirement.
They discussed the financial benefits of retirement.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
for retirement

Showing purpose or preparation

Use for retirement when something is intended to support retirement.

They invest regularly for retirement.
She opened a savings account for retirement.
2
in retirement

Describing life after leaving work

Use in retirement to talk about activities or conditions during retirement.

He travels widely in retirement.
Many people volunteer in retirement.
3
of retirement

Part of a larger noun phrase

Of retirement usually connects retirement to another noun.

The average age of retirement has increased.
They considered the emotional effects of retirement.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
for retirement
She is planning for retirement.
preparing or saving for future retirement
in retirement
He writes books in retirement.
during the period after leaving work
of retirement
The advantages of retirement vary by person.
linking retirement to another noun or idea
retire from work
She retired from work at 65.
common verb pattern related to retirement

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of retirement as a general replacement

Of retirement usually needs another noun before it.

✕ She is saving of retirement. ✓ She is saving for retirement.

Confusing in retirement with purpose

In retirement describes a stage of life, not preparation.

✕ They invest in retirement. ✓ They invest for retirement.

Missing an article in a noun phrase

Many expressions with of retirement need a determiner.

✕ Age of retirement differs by country. ✓ The age of retirement differs by country.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They are putting money aside ___ retirement.
2. She became a painter ___ retirement.
3. The benefits ___ retirement can include more free time.

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Frequently asked questions

Is in retirement a fixed expression?

Yes. It commonly means during the period after someone stops working.

Can I say save in retirement?

Usually no. Save for retirement is the standard phrase for planning financially.

Is of retirement incorrect?

No, but it usually appears inside a larger phrase such as age of retirement or effects of retirement.

for, admission, of, admission "for adoption", "of adoption" or "to adoption"? "for answer" or "of answer"? "for approval" or "of approval"? for, at, after, to or before lunch? "for breakfast" or "after breakfast"? "for collection" or "of collection"? "for dad" or "with dad"? for, during, in, of or with period? "for enforcement" or "of enforcement"? "for examination" or "of examination"? "for generation" or "of generation"?

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