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boomlet

American  
[boom-lit] / ˈbum lɪt /

noun

  1. a brief increase, as in business activity or political popularity.


Etymology

Origin of boomlet

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; boom 1 + -let

Explanation

A boomlet happens when business, popularity, or activity picks up for a short time. A lemonade stand might experience a boomlet when a family of 12 suddenly stops by, purchases a glass each, and leaves again. You may recognize the suffix -let on the word boomlet. Adding -let indicates that something is a small version of something — in this case, a small boom. A boom can be a time of economic prosperity or a run of good luck. A boomlet is a brief, limited time of economic prosperity or good fortune, like an uptick in business that is short-lived. Some other words that use the -let suffix are booklet, "a small book"; droplet, "a small drop"; and piglet, "a small pig."

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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:

The good feelings have set off a boomlet of speculation that Rubio might mount another bid for president in 2028.

From Slate Apr. 6, 2026

For a time, the boomlet in warnings of an AI bubble seemed to support the case for these companies.

From MarketWatch Feb. 6, 2026

Over the past decade, a boomlet of new companies has emerged.

From Salon Jan. 29, 2025

The spraying created a boomlet for carwashes and the plastic sheeting trade.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 15, 2024

German cars enjoyed a year’s boomlet in that part of Yorkshire.

From The Revellers by Louis Tracy

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