n. The management, regulation, or supervision of means or resources; especially, the management of the pecuniary or other concerns of a household: as, you are practising bad economy; their domestic economy needs reform.n. Hence A frugal and judicious use of money, material, time, etc.; the avoidance of or freedom from waste or extravagance in the management or use of anything; frugality in the expenditure or consumption of money, materials, etc.n. Management, order, or arrangement in general; the disposition or regulation of the parts or functions of any organic whole; an organized system or method: as, the internal economy of a nation; the economy of the work is out of joint.n. Specifically— The provisions of nature for the generation, nutrition, and preservation of animals and plants; the regular, harmonious system in accordance with which the functions of living animals and plants are performed: as, the animal economy; the vegetable economy.n. The functional organization of a living body: as, his internal economy is badly deranged.n. The regulation and disposition of the internal affairs of a state or nation, or of any department of government.n. Management; control.n. In theology: The practical measures employed in giving effect to a divine dispensation.n. The cautious presentation of doctrine, accommodating it to the feelings and prejudices of the hearers: used by J. H. Newman to describe the accommodated method (κατ)οἰκονομίαν) of the early fathers; in a bad sense, the system of withholding a large portion of gospel doctrine in teaching the mass of Christians.