recessionary
gb/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/ us/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
business
C1
property
1
connected with economic recession
connected with a time when the economy is shrinking or very weak
Usage pattern:
recessionary [period/conditions/environment/market]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse recessionary with recessive, which is used mainly in genetics or to mean less noticeable.
Synonyms
recession-related (clearer and less formal; simply connected with a recession)
|
depressed (describes a weak market or economy, but does not specifically mean a recession)
|
downturn-related (connected with a fall in economic activity, not necessarily a full recession)
Antonyms
expansionary (connected with economic growth or expansion rather than decline)
|
booming (describes very strong economic activity, often informally)
Collocations
recessionary period
|recessionary conditions
|recessionary environment
|recessionary climate
|recessionary economy
|recessionary market
|recessionary times
|recessionary downturn
Themes
economics
|business
|finance
|news
Examples
- Companies cut hiring in the recessionary climate.
- Consumer confidence tends to fall during recessionary periods.
- The fund was designed to protect investors in recessionary markets.
Learner examples
- Many shops closed during the recessionary period.
- The company saved money because the market was recessionary.
adjective
business
C1
property
2
likely to cause recession
likely to make the economy shrink or become weaker
Usage pattern:
be recessionary; recessionary [policy/effect/pressure/measure]
Common mistake:
Recessionary describes an effect on the economy; use recession as the noun, as in “a recession,” not “a recessionary.”
Synonyms
contractionary (more technical; often used of policies that reduce economic demand)
|
deflationary (suggests downward pressure on prices as well as weak demand)
|
growth-suppressing (plain description of something that holds back economic growth)
Antonyms
stimulative (likely to support spending, demand, or economic growth)
|
expansionary (describes policy or conditions that encourage economic expansion)
|
pro-growth (intended to encourage economic growth)
Collocations
recessionary policy
|recessionary measure
|recessionary effect
|recessionary impact
|recessionary pressure
|recessionary force
|recessionary shock
|recessionary trend
Themes
economics
|business
|public_policy
|finance
Examples
- Analysts said the tax increase could be recessionary if demand was already weak.
- The central bank avoided a sharp rate rise because of its possible recessionary effect.
- Some economists argued that deep spending cuts would be recessionary.
Learner examples
- Higher borrowing costs can be recessionary.
- The new policy may be recessionary for small businesses.
Grammar
Dictionary form
recessionary
IPA
GB/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/
US/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
re - ces - sion - ary (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ces)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: recessionary
- Comparative: recessionarier
- Superlative: recessionariest
Expressions
recessionary conditions
1/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi kəndˈɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
business
conditions during economic weakness
a situation in which the economy is weak or shrinking
Examples
- Retailers struggled under recessionary conditions.
- The company prepared a budget for possible recessionary conditions.
- Hiring usually slows in recessionary conditions.
recessionary environment
1/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi ɪnvˈaɪɹənmənt/
fixed phrase
business
business climate during recession
a business situation where the economy is weak or shrinking
Examples
- In a recessionary environment, customers usually delay large purchases.
- The startup found it hard to raise capital in a recessionary environment.
- Managers focused on cash flow in the recessionary environment.
recessionary gap
1/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi ɡˈæp/
fixed phrase
technical
output below economic potential
a technical economics term for when an economy produces less than it could
Examples
- A recessionary gap appears when actual output falls below potential output.
- Fiscal stimulus can reduce a recessionary gap by increasing demand.
- The textbook explains how unemployment rises when there is a recessionary gap.
recessionary policy
1/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi pˈɑlɪsi/
fixed phrase
business
policy that depresses demand
a policy that may make the economy weaker
Examples
- Critics called the austerity plan a recessionary policy.
- Raising taxes sharply during a slowdown can be a recessionary policy.
- The minister denied that the spending cuts were recessionary policies.
recessionary pressures
1/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi pɹˈɛʃɚz/
fixed phrase
business
forces pushing toward recession
things that make the economy more likely to shrink
Examples
- Rising borrowing costs created recessionary pressures across the housing market.
- The economy was still growing, but recessionary pressures were building.
- Falling exports put recessionary pressure on manufacturing.
recessionary spiral
1/ɹɪsˈɛʃənˌɛɹi spˈaɪɹəl/
fixed phrase
business
self-reinforcing economic decline
a situation where a weak economy keeps making itself weaker
Examples
- Layoffs reduced spending, creating a recessionary spiral.
- Policymakers acted quickly to prevent a recessionary spiral.
- Lower sales led to more job cuts, and the economy risked falling into a recessionary spiral.