noun
economy, business
B1
'Wirtschaft' (die) most commonly means 'economy' (national economy) and 'business' or trade. Feminine noun; plural 'Wirtschaften' exists but often uncountable when meaning 'economy'. Used in compounds (Wirtschaftspolitik, Wirtschaftswunder). Declines regularly: die Wirtschaft, der Wirtschaft. It can also mean a pub or inn regionally (eine Wirtschaft).
Examples
Die deutsche Wirtschaft wächst dieses Jahr stärker als erwartet.
The German economy is growing more strongly than expected this year.
Die Wirtschaft wächst.
The economy is growing.
Die Regierung kündigte Hilfen an, weil Hilfe für die Wirtschaft dringend nötig gewesen war.
The government announced aid because help for the economy had been urgently needed.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture factories, shops and offices connected on a map — that whole system is the Wirtschaft.
Sounds like 'with' + 'shaft' — imagine a big shaft connecting many companies: the Wirtschaft (economy).
Nouns ending in -schaft are feminine in German — remember die Wirtschaft.
Notes
Wirtschaft can mean 'the economy' or 'business'/'trade' depending on context. As 'Gastwirtschaft' it can also mean a pub or inn (regional). The suffix -schaft usually marks collective or abstract nouns and is feminine.