Matching Rate:
This is the amount your employer will add to your contribution.
For instance, a 50% match means your employer contributes $0.50 for every $1.00 you put in.

Matching Limitation:
The maximum percentage of your salary that your employer will match.
For instance, if you contribute 7% of your salary to your 401(k) and your employer has a matching limitation of 3%, then they’ll contribute, at their matching rate, just 3% of your salary. They don’t match the remaining 4% you contribute.

Tax Deduction:
You fund your 401(k) with pre-tax dollars, meaning they are taken out before taxes are deducted from your paycheck.
So, if you contribute $4,000 this year to your 401(k) and you make $50,000 per year, your adjusted gross income on your W-2 will be $46,000.

Contribution Limit:
Since your contributions reduce your adjusted gross income, by law, you can only contribute up to a certain amount each year.
This amount changes every year or so, depending on the inflation rate.

Vesting Schedule:
For companies that match a percentage of your 401(k) contributions, this schedule refers to the amount of time it takes for you to gain 100% ownership of your company’s matching funds.

Hardship Withdrawal:
This is money you can take out of your 401(k) savings, given that you meet certain qualifying conditions.
If you’re younger than 59½, you’ll have to pay 10% penalty for the loan, plus income tax, for the money you withdraw.