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

“Things have mostly gone sideways since October but this is the first true bitcoin bear market we’ve seen since the ETFs launched,” said Seyffart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Recall that the 2022 bear market began the next month.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

The money divide is particularly stark at the moment because anyone 35 or younger today wasn’t old enough to buy or sell stocks when we last faced a prolonged, severe bear market.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

A bear market is a 20% fall from a recent peak.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

He was a bull in a bear market; and the more he lost the more he thought the inevitable "rally" in prices was due.

From The Tipster 1901, From "Wall Street Stories" by Lefevre, Edwin