boom-and-bust

[ boom-uhn-buhst ]

adjective

1. characteristic of a period of economic prosperity followed by a depression.

Word History and Origins

Origin of boom-and-bust¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Barely 20 years ago, Brazil was a drowsy, underperfoming Third World nation, plagued by hyperinflation and boom-and-bust growth.

From The Daily Beast

Get-rich schemes have endured on TV for more than 25 years, and have successfully survived several boom-and-bust cycles.

From The Daily Beast