Primarily, the management, regulation and government of a family or the concerns of a household.

The management of pecuniary concerns or the expenditure of money. Hence,

A frugal and judicious use of money; that management which expends money to advantage, and incurs no waste; frugality in the necessary expenditure of money. It differs from parsimony, which implies an improper saving of expense. Economy includes also a prudent management of all the means by which property is saved or accumulated; a judicious application of time, of labor, and of the instruments of labor.

The disposition or arrangement of any work; as the economy of a poem.

A system of rules, regulations, rites and ceremonies; as the Jewish economy.

The regular operation of nature in the generation, nutrition and preservation of animals or plants; as animal economy; vegetable economy.

Distribution or due order of things.

Judicious and frugal management of public affairs; as political economy.

System of management; general regulation and disposition of the affairs of a state or nation, or of any department of government.