bear market

American  

[bair mahr-kit] / ˈbɛər ˈmɑr kɪt /

noun

Stock Exchange.

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

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bear market Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of bear market

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

He says that while BHP tends to underperform in bull markets, it typically significantly outperforms in bear markets and throughout commodity cycles.

From The Wall Street Journal

A perfect example is when the S&P 500 dropped 25% from its record high in early 2022 to the bottom of its bear market later that year.

From Barron's

Many on Wall Street believe a decline of 20% or more from a significant bull-market peak is what defines a bear market.

From MarketWatch

To argue that high VIX levels are bullish is therefore no more helpful than declaring that a bear market is bullish because the market rises once it’s over.

From MarketWatch

Crypto investors have been on a wild ride over the past year, as a roaring bear market turned into another punishing crypto winter.

From MarketWatch