Retire vs. Resign — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 3, 2024
Retire refers to leaving a job or profession, usually due to age or personal choice, without the intention of seeking new employment. Resignation involves voluntarily leaving a position, often to pursue other opportunities or due to dissatisfaction.
Difference Between Retire and Resign
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Retirement is a life event that typically occurs when an individual decides to leave their career or profession, often because of reaching a certain age or for health reasons, with the intention of not returning to the workforce. Resignation, however, is the act of voluntarily leaving a job or position, which can happen at any stage in one's career, usually with the intention of moving to another job or due to unsatisfactory conditions at the current place of employment.
While retirement often comes with certain benefits, such as pensions or retirement savings plans, which support the individual's lifestyle post-work, resignation may not necessarily provide such benefits. Individuals who resign might do so without the security of these financial supports, unless they are moving directly into another role that offers them. This distinction highlights the financial and social implications of both actions.
The decision to retire is usually seen as a major life milestone, marking the end of one's formal working life and the beginning of a new phase characterized by personal freedom and leisure. Conversely, resigning is often viewed as a career move or a step towards personal or professional development, rather than an end to working life.
Retirement involves a formal process that includes notifying employers, possibly accessing retirement funds, and adjusting to a new lifestyle without daily work commitments. On the other hand, resignation involves submitting a notice, often two weeks in advance in many countries, to inform an employer of the decision to leave, followed by a potential job search or transition to another predetermined role.
Both retirement and resignation can have profound effects on an individual's identity and social life, as work often plays a significant role in these areas. However, the transition to retirement is generally more focused on adapting to a life without work, while resignation is more about the transition from one professional role to another.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Leaving a job or profession due to age or personal choice, without seeking new employment.
Voluntarily leaving a job, often to pursue other opportunities.
Financial Support
Often includes pensions or retirement savings.
May not include financial support unless moving to another job.
Social Implication
Marks a transition to a phase of personal freedom and leisure.
Viewed as a career move or step towards personal or professional growth.
Process
Involves notifying employers, accessing retirement funds, and lifestyle adjustments.
Involves submitting a notice, usually two weeks in advance.
Effect on Identity
Significant change in identity and social life, adjusting to life without daily work.
More about transitioning to a new professional role or opportunity.
Compare with Definitions
Retire
Ending a career.
She looked forward to retirement after decades in teaching.
Resign
Career move.
His resignation was the first step towards starting his own business.
Retire
Financial planning.
Their retirement was secured with savings and pension plans.
Resign
Voluntary departure.
She submitted her resignation to explore a career change.
Retire
Life transition.
Retirement offered him the chance to pursue hobbies full-time.
Resign
Notice period.
He gave a two-week notice as per his resignation protocol.
Retire
Formal process.
He started the retirement process with his employer's HR department.
Resign
Job transition.
After his resignation, he immediately started a new position elsewhere.
Retire
Post-work phase.
Their retirement was filled with travel and volunteer work.
Resign
Professional development.
Resigning allowed her to seek further professional development.
Retire
To withdraw from one's occupation or position, especially upon reaching a certain age; stop working.
Resign
To submit (oneself) passively; accept as inevitable
I resigned myself to a long wait in line.
Retire
To move away or withdraw, as for rest or seclusion
The guests retired to the living room.
Resign
To give up (a position, for example), especially by formal notification.
Retire
To fall back or retreat, as from battle.
Resign
To relinquish (a privilege, right, or claim).
Retire
To go to bed.
Resign
To give up one's job or office; quit, especially by formal notification
Resign from a board of directors.
Retire
To cause to withdraw from one's usual field of activity
The board must retire all executives at 65.
Resign
(transitive) To give up; to relinquish ownership of.
Retire
To withdraw from use or active service
Retire an old battleship.
Resign
(transitive) To hand over (something to someone), place into the care or control of another.
Retire
To take out of circulation
Retired the bonds.
Resign
To quit (a job or position).
I am resigning in protest of the unfair treatment of our employees.
He resigned the crown to follow his heart.
Retire
To pay off
Retire one's debts.
Resign
(transitive) To submit passively; to give up as hopeless or inevitable.
He had no choice but to resign the game and let his opponent become the champion.
Retire
To lead (troops, for example) away from action; withdraw.
Resign
(proscribed) re-sign
Retire
To put out (a batter).
Resign
To sign back; to return by a formal act; to yield to another; to surrender; - said especially of office or emolument. Hence, to give up; to yield; to submit; - said of the wishes or will, or of something valued; - also often used reflexively.
I here resign my government to thee.
Lament not, Eve, but patiently resignWhat justly thou hast lost.
What more reasonable, than that we should in all things resign up ourselves to the will of God?
Retire
To cause (the opposing team) to end a turn at bat.
Resign
To relinquish; to abandon.
He soon resigned his former suit.
Retire
(intransitive) To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
Having made a large fortune, he retired.
He wants to retire at 55.
She decided to retire from her banking job due to stress.
Resign
To commit to the care of; to consign.
Gentlement of quality have been sent beyong the seas, resigned and concredited to the conduct of such as they call governors.
Retire
To withdraw; to take away.
Resign
Leave (a job, post, post, or position) voluntarily;
She vacated the position when she got pregnant
The chairman resigned when he was found to have misappropriated funds
Retire
(transitive) To cease use or production of something.
The steamship made thousands of trips over several decades before it was retired by the shipping company.
When a hurricane becomes so deadly or destructive that future use would be insensitive, officials may retire the name of the hurricane.
Resign
Give up or retire from a position;
The Secretary fo the Navy will leave office next month
The chairman resigned over the financial scandal
Retire
(transitive) To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay.
The central bank retired those notes five years ago.
Resign
Part with a possession or right;
I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest
Resign a claim to the throne
Retire
(transitive) To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list.
The board retired the old major.
Resign
Accept as inevitable;
He resigned himself to his fate
Retire
To voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat.
Jones retired in favour of Smith.
Retire
To make a play which results in a runner or the batter being out, either by means of a put out, fly out or strikeout.
Jones retired Smith 6-3.
Retire
(intransitive) To go back or return; to withdraw or retreat, especially from public view; to go into privacy.
I will retire to the study.
To retire from the world
To retire from the public eye
Retire
(intransitive) To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure.
To retire from battle
The regiment retired from the fray after the Major was killed.
Retire
(intransitive) To recede; to fall or bend back.
Past the point, the shore retires into a sequence of coves.
Retire
(intransitive) To go to bed.
I will retire for the night.
Retire
To fit (a vehicle) with new tires.
Retire
(rare) The act of retiring, or the state of being retired.
Retire
A place to which one retires.
Retire
(dated) A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.
At the retire, the cavalry fell back.
Retire
To withdraw; to take away; - sometimes used reflexively.
He . . . retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest.
As when the sun is present all the year,And never doth retire his golden ray.
Retire
To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
Retire
To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.
Retire
To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice.
To Una back he cast him to retire.
The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in,And to herself she gladly doth retire.
Retire
To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.
Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
Retire
To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired.
And from Britannia's public posts retire.
Retire
To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
Retire
To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.
Retire
The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires.
The battle and the retire of the English succors.
[Eve] discover'd soon the place of her retire.
Retire
A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.
Retire
Go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position;
He retired at age 68
Retire
Withdraw from active participation;
He retired from chess
Retire
Pull back or move away or backward;
The enemy withdrew
The limo pulled away from the curb
Retire
Move back and away from;
The enemy fell back
Retire
Withdraw from circulation or from the market, as of bills, shares, and bonds
Retire
Break from a meeting or gathering;
We adjourned for lunch
The men retired to the library
Retire
Make (someone) retire;
The director was retired after the scandal
Retire
Dispose of; as of old clothes;
She finally retired that old coat
Retire
Lose interest;
He retired from life when his wife died
Retire
Cause to be out on a fielding play
Retire
Cause to retire;
The pitcher retired three batters
The runner was put out at third base
Retire
Go to bed in order to sleep;
I usually turn in at midnight
He turns out at the crack of dawn
Common Curiosities
Is a reason required for resignation?
While not always required, providing a reason for resignation is customary and can be important for professional relationships.
Are retirement benefits always available?
Retirement benefits depend on previous employment arrangements, such as pension plans or retirement savings accounts.
Can you work after retirement?
Some individuals choose part-time work or consulting post-retirement, but it's not the primary intention of retiring.
How does retirement affect one's identity?
Retirement can significantly affect one's identity, as work often plays a crucial role in defining social roles and self-perception.
What leads to retirement?
Retirement is typically due to reaching a certain age, health reasons, or personal choice, with an intention to stop working permanently.
Why do people resign?
People resign for various reasons, including pursuing other opportunities, dissatisfaction with the current job, or personal reasons.
What planning is involved in retirement?
Retirement planning can involve financial planning, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes relocation.
Is resignation always voluntary?
Yes, resignation is a voluntary act, unlike being laid off or terminated, which are initiated by the employer.
What are the emotional effects of resigning?
Resigning can be an emotional process, involving feelings of uncertainty, excitement, or relief, depending on the circumstances.
What is the typical notice period for a resignation?
The typical notice period varies by country and contract but is often two weeks.
Can you resign and then decide to retire?
Yes, some individuals resign from their current positions and then choose to enter retirement rather than seeking new employment.
How do retirement and resignation impact social connections?
Both can lead to changes in social networks, with retirement often leading to more dramatic shifts due to the complete exit from the workforce.
What legal considerations are there in resignation?
Legal considerations can include adhering to contractual notice periods and obligations regarding confidentiality and non-compete clauses.
Can retirement be reversed?
While retirement is generally considered final, some retirees choose to return to work in some capacity.
How is society's perception of retirement changing?
Society's perception is evolving with trends towards more active, engaged retirements and sometimes returning to work or starting new ventures.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
