bear market

noun

: a market in which securities or commodities are persistently declining in value compare bull market

Examples of bear market in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The key to successful long-term stock investing is staying invested during the inevitable tough times, as rebounds from those bear markets are typically massive and unpredictable in timing, as illustrated by the first half of this year. Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 Stocks have made a massive comeback after seeing steep declines in early April, when investor anxiety around President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policy put the S & P 500 near bear market territory . Sean Conlon, CNBC, 27 June 2025 Markets have made a stunning turnaround since April, when the S&P 500 entered a bear market amid concerns over the Trump administration's tariff policies. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 27 June 2025 That preliminary deal sparked a global relief rally in stock markets, and U.S. indexes that had been in or near bear market levels have recouped the lion's share of their losses. Reuters, USA Today, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear market

Word History

Etymology

bear entry 1 (one that sells in expectation of a price decline)

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bear market was in 1858

Cite this Entry

“Bear market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear%20market. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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