recession

1 of 2

noun (1)

re·​ces·​sion ri-ˈse-shən 

plural recessions

1

: the act or action of receding : withdrawal

the recession of floodwaters

The exposed roots of teeth, commonly caused by gum recession, can be protected by using a composite resin in combination with an adhesive resin.

—American Dental Association

2

economics : a period of significantly reduced general economic activity that is marked especially by declines in employment and production and that lasts more than a few months

The country is in a recession.

a period of economic recession

The spurt of economic growth that usually follows recessions isn't in sight this time.

—David Wessel

compare depression sense 2a

3

: a departing procession (as of clergy and choir at the end of a church service)

recessionary

ri-ˈse-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

recession

2 of 2

noun (2)

re·​ces·​sion (ˌ)rē-ˈse-shən 

: the act of ceding back to a former possessor

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• depression
• slump

Examples of recession in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But his findings on the relationship between prices and earnings — for which he was awarded a Nobel — suggests that the S&P 500 is less likely to produce stellar returns over the following decade than was the case when the market bottomed in early 2020, during the Covid-19 recession. —Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024

And half of respondents believe a recession in the U.S. is possible over the next two to three years. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024

Damien Scott: Some commercial recession is inevitable. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024

The improving layoff backdrop corresponds with fading recession anxiety, with a group of large-bank economists now seeing a 30% chance of a recession this year, down from 50% previously. —The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024

Traditionally, the Fed reduces interest rates to jolt an economy that’s slowing significantly or already in recession. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024

That’s a big shift from a year ago, when 65% of economists polled by Bloomberg still expected a recession, and an even bigger shift from October 2022, when 100% of economists in Bloomberg’s poll were convinced a recession was inevitable. —Will Daniel, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024

Her Advanced Placement economics course covers such topics as supply and demand, monetary policy, inflation, unemployment, gross domestic product, the peaks and recessions of the business cycle, fiscal policy and the Federal Reserve. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024

Grantham continued that once the AI bubble starts to deflate, the original market bubble will follow and end with a recession. —Bruce Gil, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

re- + cession

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing recession

• pre-recession
• anti-recession

Kids Definition

recession

noun

re·​ces·​sion

ri-ˈsesh-ən

1

: the act or fact of receding or withdrawing

2

: a group of individuals departing in an orderly often ceremonial way

3

: a downward turn in business activity

also : the period of such a downward turn

Medical Definition

recession

noun

re·​ces·​sion ri-ˈsesh-ən 

: pathological withdrawal of tissue from its normal position

advanced gum recession