dovish

American  

[duhv-ish] / ˈdʌv ɪʃ /

Also dovelike

adjective

1. (especially of a person in public office) advocating peace, compromise, or a conciliatory national attitude.

   Mr. Weizman made his name as one of Israel's most celebrated fighting men, yet he worked to transform himself into a dovish politician.

2. Economics. advocating low interest rates or other monetary policies aimed at reducing unemployment rather than inflation.

   With the jobless rate in double digits, the same dovish remarks can be expected from other Federal Reserve officials.

3. like or resembling a dove or any of the bird’s typical features or behaviors.

   The sofa fabric is a soft dovish gray.

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Other Word Forms

• dovishness noun

Etymology

Origin of dovish

dov(e) ¹ ( def. ) + -ish ¹

Compare meaning

How does dovish compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dovish vs. hawkish

Example Sentences

However, during the meeting some members of the governing council said there “could be a case for erring on the dovish side.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Paulson’s current views put her on the dovish side of the rate-setting committee because she sees risks to the job market as “a little bit higher” than the risk of stubborn inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Paulson is a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year and is considered among the more dovish of the regional Fed presidents with votes in 2026.

From Barron's

Adding to the dovish tone of the labor force survey, wage growth cooled for the month, though it continues to outpace annual consumer price inflation that sits just above the Bank of Canada’s 2% target.

From The Wall Street Journal

The real test for a dovish Fed chair would come when inflation pressures reaccelerate.

From MarketWatch