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Synonyms

recession

1 American  
[ri-sesh-uhn] / rɪˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

  1. the act of receding recede or withdrawing.

  2. a receding recede part of a wall, building, etc.

  3. a withdrawing procession, as at the end of a religious service.

  4. Economics. a period of an economic contraction, sometimes limited in scope or duration.

recession 2 American  
[ree-sesh-uhn] / riˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

  1. a return of ownership to a former possessor.

recession 1 British  
/ riːˈsɛʃən /

noun

  1. the act of restoring possession to a former owner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
recession 2 British  
/ rɪˈsɛʃən /

noun

  1. a temporary depression in economic activity or prosperity

  2. the withdrawal of the clergy and choir in procession from the chancel at the conclusion of a church service

  3. the act of receding

  4. a part of a building, wall, etc, that recedes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
recession Cultural  

  1. A general business slump, less severe than a depression.

Etymology

Origin of recession1

First recorded in 1640–50, recession is from the Latin word recessiōn- (stem of recessiō ). See recess, -ion

Origin of recession2

First recorded in 1885–90; re- + cession

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It would take a 100% oil price spike to cause a global recession, he adds.

From Barron's

It would take a 100% oil price spike to cause a global recession, he adds.

From Barron's

It would take a 100% oil price spike to cause a global recession, he adds.

From Barron's

Consumer lenders—more vulnerable during economic recessions—were among the market’s worst performers on Friday, including American Express.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said that the bond market’s “traditional recession playbook” is that the “economy gets sick” first, followed by job losses.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.