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Meaning & use

expansionary

adjective·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ɪkˈspænʃənəri/
US/ɪkˈspænʃəneri/

Meanings

  1. adjectivenot comparable

    Intended to increase economic growth, often by lowering taxes or increasing government spending.

    Grammar: Not usually used with 'more' or 'most'; it describes a type of policy rather than a degree.

    Patterns

    • expansionary policy
    • expansionary measures
    • expansionary fiscal policy

    The government introduced expansionary measures to boost the economy.

    Expansionary fiscal policy can lead to higher inflation.

    The central bank adopted an expansionary monetary stance.

  2. adjectivenot comparable

    Relating to or causing expansion or growth in size, scope, or volume.

    Grammar: Used in technical contexts, e.g., 'expansionary phase' in business cycles.

    Patterns

    • expansionary phase
    • expansionary trend

    The company is in an expansionary phase, opening new stores across the country.

    The expansionary trend in the housing market continued for another year.

Common combinations

expansionary fiscal policy
Expansionary fiscal policy involves cutting taxes or raising spending.
expansionary monetary policy
The central bank lowered interest rates as part of its expansionary monetary policy.
expansionary measures
The government announced expansionary measures to stimulate demand.
expansionary budget
The chancellor presented an expansionary budget with increased public investment.

Synonyms and how they differ

stimulative
Stimulative is broader and can refer to any action that encourages activity, while expansionary specifically relates to economic growth policies.
growth-oriented
Growth-oriented describes a focus on growth, often in business, whereas expansionary is more technical and used in economics.

Opposites

contractionary

Word family

expansion noun
The act of becoming larger or more extensive.
expand verb
To become larger or to make something larger.

Commonly confused: expansionary or expansive?

expansionary vs expansive

Expansive means wide-ranging or communicative, while expansionary relates to economic expansion.

Practice

To fight a recession, the government may adopt ______ policies to increase demand.

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