New Deal

noun

: the legislative and administrative program of President Franklin D. Roosevelt designed to promote economic recovery and social reform during the 1930s

also : the period of this program

New Dealer noun

New Dealish

-ˈdē-lish 

adjective

New Dealism

-ˈdē-ˌli-zəm 

noun

Examples of New Deal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite surveys in the 1800s indicating that building a canal would be too costly or difficult, construction began in the 1930s under President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026

The 2020 Democratic presidential primary, the party's last open nominating contest, featured a rush to the left as candidates raced to embrace far-reaching ideas including Medicare-for-all, the Green New Deal and aggressive taxes on billionaires. —Jeff Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026

Jewish leaders rose through the labor movement, helped found and lead unions, and became architects of the New Deal coalition. —Jacki Karsh, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026

The New Deal Banking Acts of 1933 and 1935 incorporated them and created the current Fed structure. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the supposed resemblance to the situation of freshness and equality of opportunity afforded by a fresh deal in a card game

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for New Deal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• foveal