depression

noun

de·​pres·​sion di-ˈpre-shən 

dē-

plural depressions

1

: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: such as

a

: a state of feeling sad : low spirits : melancholy

specifically : a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies see also clinical depression, major depression, postpartum depression

b(1)

: a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force

a depression in trade

(2)

biology : a lowering of physical or mental vitality or of functional activity

c

: a pressing down : lowering

a depression of the tab key

2

a

economics : a long-lasting period of greatly reduced general economic activity marked especially by widespread unemployment and declines in trade and production and often by deflation

a country heading towards a depression

periods of economic depression

compare recession entry 1 sense 2

b

the Depression : great depression

3

: a place or part that is lower than the surrounding area : a depressed place or part : hollow

The chicken pox left several depressions in her skin.

4

meteorology : low entry 2 sense 1b

a tropical depression

5

a

astronomy : the angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon

b

mathematics : the size of an angle of depression

Synonyms

• recession
• slump

Examples of depression in a Sentence

She has been undergoing treatment for severe depression.

Many people suffer from clinical depression for years before being diagnosed.

After several years of an economic boom, it looks as though we may be heading toward a depression.

The photographs show depressions in the moon's surface.

Recent Examples on the Web

Composting locations don’t need to be perfectly level, but selecting a spot that doesn’t have any significant inclines or depressions makes compost piles much easier to manage. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2025

However, the series main character, Mi-ji, has been able to move past the depression that kept her from chasing her ambitions for years. —Kayti Burt, Time, 30 June 2025

Lyons was released from Tottenham’s youth system at age 16 and fell into depression before dying by suicide 10 years later. —Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2025

Wallowing in his depression, Louis is attacked by Tom Cruise's Lestat de Lioncourt, a Parisian vampire transplant. —Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

see depress

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5a

Phrases Containing depression

• angle of depression
• clinical depression
• major depression
• manic depression
• postpartum depression
• unipolar depression

Rhymes for depression

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression
• possession

Kids Definition

depression

noun

de·​pres·​sion di-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: an act of depressing : a state of being depressed: as

a

: a pressing down : lowering

b

: a state of feeling sad : dejection

also : a mood disorder marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness usually accompanied by social withdrawal, inactivity, and loss of a sense of one's own worth

c

: a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force

2

: a depressed place or part : hollow

a depression in the road

3

: a period of low general economic activity with widespread unemployment

Medical Definition

depression

noun

de·​pres·​sion di-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: a displacement downward or inward

depression of the jaw

2

: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as

a

: a state of feeling sad : low spirits : melancholy

specifically : a mood disorder marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies see also clinical depression, major depression, postpartum depression

b

: a reduction in functional activity, amount, quality, or force

depression of autonomic function

depression of red blood cells