belt-tightening

American  

[belt-tahyt-n-ing] / ˈbɛltˌtaɪt n ɪŋ /

noun

1. a curtailment in spending; period of economizing.

   The mayor ordered a belt-tightening for all city offices.

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Etymology

Origin of belt-tightening

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Ubisoft on Wednesday ended a months-long wait for details of a restructuring the French games giant hopes will power it up to face a competitive market -- at the price of a string of cancelled games and a new round of belt-tightening.

From Barron's

Analysts and automakers predict U.S. annual sales will fall in 2026 following three straight years of gains as belt-tightening American car buyers collide with tariff costs that companies probably won’t keep absorbing.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Our 2026 budget is not the sharp drop-off it might at first appear to be, but rather, it is a continuation of a belt-tightening that is already under way,” acting Chair George Botic said.

From The Wall Street Journal

But growing AI adoption, softening consumer and corporate spending, and belt-tightening driven by higher costs likely played a role as well.

From MarketWatch

“Some industries are correcting after the hiring boom of the pandemic, but this comes as AI adoption, softening consumer and corporate spending, and rising costs drive belt-tightening and hiring freezes,” Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray and Christmas, said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• decline
• reduction
• reversal