BusinessAugust 10, 2026

freefall

FREE-fall

Definition

A rapid, uncontrolled, and continuous decline in value, condition, or stability.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of 'free' (meaning unrestrained) and 'fall' (dropping downward), originally used in the context of parachuting before evolving to describe figurative declines in economics or status.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the deteriorating state of the Iranian economy, which is entering a sharp and sustained period of collapse.

Iran’s ‘misery’ index hits record high — and about to get worse under Trump’s latest move

Read the full article ↗

New York Post

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