business cycle

American  

noun

1. a recurrent fluctuation in the total business activity of a country.

---

business cycle British  

noun

1. Also called: trade cycle.  the recurrent fluctuation between boom and depression in the economic activity of a capitalist country

---

business cycle Cultural  

1. A period during which business activity reaches a low point, recovers, expands, reaches a high point, decreases to a new low point, and so on.

---

Etymology

Origin of business cycle

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

As the European Central Bank noted in a 2023 study, the "associated transactions in these intangible assets are often unrelated to euro area business cycle dynamics."

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

In the later stages of the business cycle, more money is allocated into “defensive” sectors, which tend to be relatively stable regardless of economic conditions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Sector rotation follows certain patterns throughout the business cycle.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

There is nothing innate to human psychology or inherent in modern economies that indicates recessions are part of an inevitable business cycle, he writes in his new book, Recession.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Australia probably will experience some weakness in mid-2002 as its business cycle tends to lag the US by about six months, and larger problems could emerge if Australia's trade position worsens.

From The 2002 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency