recessionary

American

[ri-sesh-uh-ner-ee] / rɪˈsɛʃ əˌnɛr i /

adjective

of, relating to, or causing recession, especially economic recession.

recessionary market pressures.

recessionary British

/ rɪˈsɛʃənərɪ /

adjective

of, caused by, or undergoing economic recession

"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

Etymology

Origin of recessionary

First recorded in 1955–60; recession ¹ + -ary

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.

Despite the Iran war, elevated oil prices, inflation, recessionary fears, and worries that the artificial-intelligence boom has created a stock market bubble, stocks keep going up.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

A global growth rate below 2.5% is generally considered recessionary.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Appliance demand has deteriorated significantly, according to Whirlpool, which is now warning that trends look worse now than during some recessionary times of the past.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Back in recessionary 2009, sales plunged as fewer people were willing to prepay for years of vacations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The pingti movement goes deeper than typical recessionary trading down.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023