goldilocks

American  

[gohl-dee-loks] / ˈgoʊl diˌlɒks /

noun

plural

goldilocks

1. (used with a singular verb) a person with golden hair.

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adjective

1. (usually initial capital letter) not being extreme or not varying drastically between extremes, especially between hot and cold.

   a Goldilocks economy that is neither overheated nor too cold to cause a recession;

   a goldilocks planet such as Earth.

goldilocks British  

/ ˈɡəʊldɪˌlɒks /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Aster linosyris (or Linosyris vulgaris ), with clusters of small yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. a Eurasian ranunculaceous woodland plant, Ranunculus auricomus, with yellow flowers See also buttercup

3. (sometimes capital) a person, esp a girl, with light blond hair

4. (modifier; sometimes capital) not prone to extremes of temperature, volatility, etc

   a goldilocks planet

   a goldilocks economy

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Etymology

Origin of goldilocks

1540–50; obsolete goldy golden + lock ² + -s ³; from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears , in which the golden-haired Goldilocks rejects uncomfortable extremes, as porridge that is too hot or too cold

Example Sentences

They describe this as a chemical Goldilocks zone.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

JPMorgan said a combination of solid growth and well-behaved inflation are producing a Goldilocks set-up for stocks to flourish.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026

Stocks, despite the Goldilocks nature of recent economic data, which indicates easing inflation pressures with a resilient job market and solid GDP growth, can’t find their mojo.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

And if inflation is heading to that so-called Goldilocks state, the Bank will not want to jeopardise that by cutting rates too far or too fast .

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

“Of my own free will, I sever this knot,” Seth said, as Goldilocks squawked noisily.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull