expansionary

adjective

ex·​pan·​sion·​ary ik-ˈspan(t)-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce expansionary (audio)
: tending toward expansion
an expansionary economy

Examples of expansionary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crowds took to the streets of Suwayda, a Druze majority Syrian city, to protest his call to demilitarize southern Syria and regional leaders representing the group accused Israel of expansionary goals. Mostafa Salem, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025 Historically, housing markets have led the way out of recessions, as interest rates typically fall in response to expansionary monetary policy and house prices fall as a result of a decline in aggregate demand. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025 The budget is already $840 billion in the hole through just the first four months of fiscal 2025 as the deficit runs above 6% as a share of gross domestic product, a level virtually unheard of in a peacetime, expansionary economy. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025 On the other hand, when the Fed pursues expansionary policies, such as lowering interest rates or implementing quantitative easing, the dollar weakens, and gold prices often surge. Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expansionary

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of expansionary was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expansionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expansionary. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!