English Reference
noun

recession

n.
US /ˌɹiˈsɛʃən/ UK /ɹɪsˈɛʃən/ re·ces·sion UK spelling recessions

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a difficult time for a country's economy when there is less trade and more people lose their jobs.

    a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters.

    Simple

    Many small businesses had to close down during the last global recession.

    In context

    Economists warned that the aggressive interest rate hikes could inadvertently trigger a deep recession, leading to widespread unemployment across the manufacturing sector.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of something moving away or backward from a previous position.

    the act or instance of receding or withdrawing from a limit, point, or previous condition.

    Simple

    The recession of the floodwaters finally allowed people to return to their homes.

    In context

    The gradual recession of the coastline due to rising sea levels has forced local authorities to reconsider their urban planning strategies.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a type of eye surgery where a muscle is moved to a new position to fix how the eye moves.

    a surgical procedure in which an extraocular muscle is detached from the globe of the eye and reattached further back to weaken its action.

    Simple

    The doctor recommended a muscle recession to correct the child's crossed eyes.

    In context

    The surgeon performed a bilateral medial rectus recession to address the patient's persistent esotropia and improve binocular alignment.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    the formal walk out of the choir and priests at the end of a church service.

    the ceremonial exit of the clergy, choir, and altar servers from the chancel at the conclusion of a religious service.

    Simple

    The congregation stood in silence during the recession of the choir.

    In context

    Following the final blessing, the organist played a triumphant march to accompany the recession of the clergy through the nave.

    recessional

Usage economic recession

But experts say the damage to the Canadian economy will be worse, as the tit-for-tat tariffs have raised the chances of a recession.

Al Jazeera· 28 Aug 2026

That ended with the Great Recession , which lasted from late 2007 until mid-2009.

The Conversation· 19 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Latin recessiō, from recēdō (“recede, retreat”), from re- (“back”) + cēdō (“to go”). By surface analysis, recess + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated