noun

bull market

BUUL MAR-kit

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Bull market (noun) means a period in which the prices of shares or other investments rise strongly and keep rising over months or years, and buyers generally expect that to continue. Example: “The longest bull market in the country's history ran for more than a decade.”

noun

A period in which the prices of shares or other investments rise strongly and keep rising over months or years, and buyers generally expect that to continue.

"The longest bull market in the country's history ran for more than a decade."

"In a bull market almost everything goes up, which makes it hard to tell skill from luck."

adjective

attributive Describing conditions, mood or behaviour typical of a rising market. Usually written as bull-market before a noun.

"That kind of confidence is pure bull-market thinking."

How to use bull market

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long stretch where investments keep getting more valuable.

When to use it

Standard across financial journalism and everyday speech. Also used loosely outside finance, as in a bull market for graduates.

Memory tip

Bull and bear always come as a pair; if you remember one direction you can work out the other.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

bear market → rally → bubble → boom →

Common pairings

raging bull market the bull market ended bull-market highs turn bullish

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “bull market” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The longest _____ in the country's history ran for more than a decade.

Etymology

From bull, stock-market slang for someone buying in expectation of rising prices, plus market; formed as the counterpart to bear market.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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market upturn rally boom upswing bullish buoyant

Antonyms

bear market bear-market bearish

Related words

happy ride bull expand boom bang blast explosion

Rhymes for bull market

market supermarket

See all rhymes for bull market →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a bull market and a rally?

A rally is any run of rising prices, and it can last a few days. A bull market is a much longer stretch, usually measured in months or years, during which the general direction is upward. Short rallies happen inside bear markets too, which is why they are sometimes called bear-market rallies.

How is the start of a bull market decided?

There is no official body that declares one. Commentators most often date it from the lowest point of the previous decline, and only say the bull market has begun once prices have risen roughly twenty per cent above that low. Because the low is only obvious in hindsight, the starting date is usually assigned after the fact.

Does bullish mean the same thing?

Bullish describes an attitude rather than a period. Someone bullish on a company expects its value to rise. A bull market is the market-wide condition in which many people feel that way at once.

What is the meaning of bull market?

"bull market" (noun) means a period in which the prices of shares or other investments rise strongly and keep rising over months or years, and buyers generally expect that to continue.

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