Phillips curve
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of Phillips curve
C20: named after A. W. H. Phillips (1914–75), New Zealand economist who formulated the theory
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.
Less publicity has been given to his observations regarding the Phillips curve, which posits a trade-off between inflation and unemployment.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
Conventional forecasts relied on something known as the Phillips curve, which predicts that wages and prices accelerate when the unemployment rate falls below some natural, sustainable level that can’t be directly observed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The Phillips curve also depends on an accurate reading of unemployment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2022
Low unemployment and higher inflation have long been correlated — a relationship known as the Phillips curve.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 2, 2019
In the late 1960s, there was considerable empirical support for the Phillips curve; it was regarded as one of the more stable relations in economics.
From Definition & Reality in the General Theory of Political Economy by Colignatus, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
