récession
A recession is a period when a country's economy shrinks and people have less money to spend.
Explanation at your level:
A recession is when a country has no money. Shops close. People lose jobs. It is a sad time for everyone.
A recession is a time when the economy is not good. People buy fewer things. Many people do not have work. It usually lasts for a few months.
When a country is in a recession, businesses are not making much money. This usually means that the GDP goes down. People are often worried about their jobs during these times.
A recession is a formal term for a period of economic contraction. It is often defined by two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Governments often try to use policies to stop a recession from getting worse.
The term recession denotes a significant, widespread, and prolonged downturn in economic activity. Unlike a depression, a recession is considered a cyclical correction within a market economy. It involves complex factors like interest rates, consumer confidence, and trade balances.
Etymologically derived from the Latin 'recessio,' the term recession has evolved from a general sense of withdrawal to a specific macroeconomic indicator. In contemporary discourse, it serves as a barometer for national stability. Distinguishing between a technical recession and a full-scale depression requires nuanced analysis of employment data and structural economic shifts.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A recession is a period of economic decline.
- It is usually marked by a drop in GDP.
- It is a temporary phase in the business cycle.
- It often leads to higher unemployment.
When we talk about a recession, we are describing a tough time for the economy. Think of it as a period where the 'engine' of a country slows down significantly.
During a recession, businesses often struggle to make sales, which can lead to them hiring fewer people or even laying off staff. It is a natural, though painful, part of the business cycle.
It is not the same as a depression, which is much longer and more severe. A recession is usually temporary, and economies eventually recover and start growing again.
The word recession comes from the Latin word recessio, which means 'a going back' or 'a withdrawal.' It entered the English language in the 17th century.
Originally, it was used in a general sense of 'withdrawing' from a place or position. It wasn't until the 1920s that economists started using it specifically to describe a decline in business activity.
It became a very popular term after the Great Depression, as experts wanted a word that sounded less scary than 'depression' to describe smaller economic downturns.
You will most often hear recession in the news or in business meetings. It is a formal term, but it is used in everyday conversation when discussing the cost of living.
Common phrases include 'entering a recession' or 'avoiding a recession.' You might also hear people talk about a 'deep recession' or a 'mild recession' depending on how bad the situation is.
Because it refers to a serious topic, it is rarely used in casual, lighthearted banter unless you are making a joke about being broke!
While there aren't many idioms containing the word itself, we use phrases like 'tighten your belt' to describe how people act during a recession, meaning they spend less money.
Another common expression is 'weather the storm,' which means to survive a difficult economic period. You might also hear 'the bottom fell out,' referring to a sudden economic crash.
People also say 'times are lean,' meaning money is scarce. Finally, 'feeling the pinch' describes the personal stress of having less money due to a recession.
Recession is a countable noun. You can say 'a recession' or 'the recession.' The plural form is 'recessions.'
The IPA for the word is /rɪˈsɛʃən/. The stress is on the second syllable: re-CESH-un.
It rhymes with words like 'confession,' 'procession,' 'depression,' 'obsession,' and 'possession.' It is a standard noun that follows regular English pluralization rules.
Fun Fact
It was originally used to describe physical movement before it was used for money.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'ri-SESH-un'
Sounds like 'ri-SESH-un'
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'c' as a 'k'
- Putting stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the final 'n' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in news
Useful for essays
Good for debates
Frequent in media
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable
A recession (countable)
Article usage
The recession
Subject-verb agreement
The recession is coming
Examples by Level
The store is closed.
Store not open
Simple present
The economy is bad.
Many people lost jobs.
We have less money.
Prices are very high.
The store had to close.
It is a hard time.
The country is poor.
We must save money.
The country is in a recession.
Many businesses are closing down.
Unemployment is rising quickly.
People are spending less money.
The government is worried now.
It is a difficult economic period.
Families are tightening their belts.
The recession lasted two years.
The economy entered a deep recession last year.
Experts predict a mild recession soon.
The government implemented stimulus packages to end the recession.
Consumer confidence is low during a recession.
Many investors sold their stocks during the recession.
The recession caused a decline in manufacturing.
We are trying to avoid a global recession.
The recession affected every sector of the market.
The central bank raised interest rates to mitigate the recession.
Economists are debating the duration of the current recession.
The recession led to a significant contraction in the housing market.
Structural reforms were necessary to recover from the recession.
The recession highlighted the fragility of the global supply chain.
Fiscal policy played a key role in ending the recession.
Many firms filed for bankruptcy during the recession.
The recession was a catalyst for major economic policy changes.
The recession precipitated a profound shift in consumer behavior.
The cyclical nature of the recession was exacerbated by geopolitical tensions.
Analysts scrutinized the leading indicators to forecast the depth of the recession.
The recession served as a sobering reminder of market volatility.
Recovery from the recession was hampered by high inflation.
The recession induced a period of austerity across the public sector.
The recession necessitated a complete overhaul of the financial system.
The recession was characterized by a sharp decline in aggregate demand.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"tighten one's belt"
Spend less money
We have to tighten our belts during this recession.
neutral"weather the storm"
Survive a hard time
Our company managed to weather the storm.
neutral"the bottom fell out"
A sudden collapse
When the recession started, the bottom fell out of the market.
informal"feeling the pinch"
Experiencing financial difficulty
Many families are feeling the pinch right now.
neutral"times are lean"
Money is scarce
Times are lean, so we aren't traveling this year.
neutral"penny-pinching"
Being very careful with money
The recession led to a lot of penny-pinching.
informalEasily Confused
Both are economic terms
Depression is much worse and longer
The 2008 recession was bad, but not a depression.
Both are economic issues
Inflation is rising prices; recession is falling activity
Inflation makes things expensive, while a recession makes money scarce.
Both imply a bad economy
Stagnation means no movement; recession means moving backward
The economy is in stagnation, not yet a recession.
Same root
Recede is a verb; recession is a noun
The flood waters will recede, but the recession will take time.
Sentence Patterns
The country is in a [noun].
The country is in a recession.
A [noun] causes [noun].
A recession causes unemployment.
Experts predict a [adjective] [noun].
Experts predict a mild recession.
We are trying to avoid a [noun].
We are trying to avoid a recession.
The [noun] hit the [noun] hard.
The recession hit the market hard.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Recession is a noun, not an adjective.
A recession is temporary; a depression is long-term.
Recession refers to the specific period, not the system itself.
Don't forget the double 's'.
Recession refers to the whole country's economy.
Tips
Memory Palace
Picture a graph line sliding down a hill.
News Context
Listen to financial news to hear it used naturally.
Economic Awareness
Understand that it affects real people's lives.
Article Usage
Always use 'a' or 'the' before it.
Stress the Middle
Focus on the 'SESH' sound.
Don't say 'a recessionary'
Use 'a recession'.
Latin Roots
It comes from 'recedere' meaning to go back.
Read Headlines
Search 'recession' in Google News.
Pluralization
It is a standard countable noun.
Tone Check
Keep it serious when using this word.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Re-cession: The economy is 're-ceding' (going back) into a hole.
Visual Association
A graph line going down like a slide.
Word Web
Challenge
Look up the news and count how many times you see the word 'recession'.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: A going back
Cultural Context
Can be a sensitive topic for people who lost jobs.
It is a staple term in news media and political debates.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Business News
- market volatility
- economic outlook
- recession fears
Politics
- fiscal policy
- government spending
- economic recovery
Daily Life
- tightening budget
- job security
- rising costs
Academic Study
- macroeconomic indicators
- GDP contraction
- business cycle
Conversation Starters
"Do you think we are heading toward a recession?"
"How does a recession affect small businesses?"
"What is the difference between a recession and a depression?"
"Have you ever lived through a major recession?"
"What can governments do to stop a recession?"
Journal Prompts
Write about how a recession might change your daily spending habits.
Imagine you are a business owner; how would you prepare for a recession?
Describe the difference between economic growth and a recession.
Why do you think people fear recessions so much?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, a depression is much longer and more severe.
Usually a few months to a couple of years.
It is generally bad, but some say it 'cleans' the economy of weak businesses.
Two quarters of negative GDP growth.
No, but unemployment rates usually go up.
Yes, especially when discussing prices and jobs.
An economic boom or expansion.
Economists and government agencies.
Test Yourself
The country is in a ___.
Recession fits the context of an economic state.
What happens in a recession?
Recessions are characterized by economic hardship.
A recession is a good thing for the economy.
It is a period of decline, which is negative.
Word
Meaning
These are opposite economic states.
The country is in the recession.
Score: /5
Summary
A recession is a temporary but challenging period where the economy slows down, affecting jobs and spending.
- A recession is a period of economic decline.
- It is usually marked by a drop in GDP.
- It is a temporary phase in the business cycle.
- It often leads to higher unemployment.
Memory Palace
Picture a graph line sliding down a hill.
News Context
Listen to financial news to hear it used naturally.
Economic Awareness
Understand that it affects real people's lives.
Article Usage
Always use 'a' or 'the' before it.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More business words
à crédit
B1With deferred payment; on credit.
à défaut de
B1In the absence of; for lack of.
à jour
A2Up to date; current.
à la fois...et
B1Both...and.
à la suite de
B1Following; as a result of.
à l'exception de
B1With the exception of, except for.
à l'export
B1For export; relating to exporting.
à l'import
B1For import; relating to importing.
à l'ordre de
B1Payable to; specifies the beneficiary of a payment (e.g., on a check).
à mon avis
A2In my opinion; according to my point of view.
