bear market

American

[bair mahr-kit] / ˈbɛər ˈmɑr kɪt /

noun

Stock Exchange.

a financial market characterized by investment prices that are falling or that are forecast to fall.

bear market Cultural

A market, especially a stock market, characterized by falling prices; the opposite of a bull market.

Etymology

Origin of bear market

First recorded in 1870–75

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.

See Examples For:

bear market

What’s driving the rapid shift as South Korea’s bear market turns back into a bull.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

It has since rallied about 20 percent, putting it in a bear market.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

You also might need to tighten your belt and accept a lower annual payment some years if there’s a severe bear market early on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Still, it’s always worth asking whether your portfolio could withstand a prolonged bear market without affecting your peace of mind.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026

It refers to a person who believes that the market value of stocks will decline, and a bear market is a declining market.

From Successful Stock Speculation by John James Butler

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