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early retirement

Definitions (2)

1. A retirement plan provision which allows an employee to retire before the company's official retirement age. Generally, if an employee elects to exercise this option, he or she can expect to receive fewer benefits than if the employee had waited until the official retirement age.

2. In the case of Social Security, the practice of retiring before the official retirement age of 65. Individuals may choose to retire as early as age 62, but will get fewer benefits than if they were to retire at the official retirement age.