expansionary

adjective

ex·​pan·​sion·​ary ik-ˈspan(t)-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce expansionary (audio)
: tending toward expansion
an expansionary economy

Examples of expansionary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But this phenomenon also emerged from a particular context: an expansionary moment of pre-internet, post-Cold War globalization, when circulation itself felt like a promise. Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026 She’s expected to usher in further expansionary policies. Sarah Min, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026 Earlier in the day, data showed the economy’s performance was weaker than expected in the fourth quarter, giving impetus to Takaichi’s expansionary agenda. Toru Fujioka, Bloomberg, 16 Feb. 2026 And third, the government is keeping fiscal policy expansionary. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expansionary

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of expansionary was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Expansionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expansionary. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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