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hard landing

American  

noun

  1. Aeronautics. an uncontrolled or rough landing by an aircraft or spacecraft, usually resulting in damage.

  2. Economics. an economic downturn or recession after a period of strong demand and expansion.


hard landing British  

noun

  1. a landing by a rocket or spacecraft in which the vehicle is destroyed on impact

  2. a sharp fall into recession following a sustained period of economic growth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Her hard landing made the branch sway to and fro, but she had sea legs enough to manage it, after all the traveling she had done.

From Literature

“The key takeaway remains: if the economy avoids a hard landing, the AI trade—which is a secular, multiyear theme of productivity growth—will simply carry on,” said Tigay at Catalyst Hedged Equity Fund.

From Barron's

As a result of a hard landing, the BOE would be confronted with “an even more dramatic inflation undershoot” than in a bumpy landing.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the rate-setter said there is a growing risk of a “hard landing” that would involve “recession dynamics.”

From The Wall Street Journal

We may be coming in for a hard landing.

From Los Angeles Times