goldilocks

[ gohl-dee-loks ]

noun

, plural gold·i·locks.

1. (used with a singular verb) a person with golden hair.

adjective

1. (usually initial capital letter) not being extreme or not varying drastically between extremes, especially between hot and cold: Goldilocks zone.

   a Goldilocks economy that is neither overheated nor too cold to cause a recession;

   a goldilocks planet such as Earth.

goldilocks

/ ˈɡəʊldɪˌlɒks /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Aster linosyris (or Linosyris vulgaris ), with clusters of small yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. a Eurasian ranunculaceous woodland plant, Ranunculus auricomus, with yellow flowers See also buttercup
3. sometimes capital a person, esp a girl, with light blond hair
4. modifier; sometimes capital not prone to extremes of temperature, volatility, etc

   a goldilocks planet

   a goldilocks economy

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldilocks¹

1540–50; obsolete goldy golden + lock ² + -s ³; from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears , in which the golden-haired Goldilocks rejects uncomfortable extremes, as porridge that is too hot or too cold

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldilocks¹

(for sense 4): C20: from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears , in which the heroine prefers the porridge that is neither too hot nor too cold

Example Sentences

Calling the PMI a "goldilocks" report, Martin said it was "generally a good report" with prices moderating and "okay" employment.

From Reuters

The 'goldilocks' scenario of brisk payroll growth and modest wage rises was enough to see stocks rally hard by Friday's close even though Treasury bond yields continue to stalk 16-year highs.

From Reuters

The big fear for investors is that what looked like an emerging 'goldilocks' scenario of cooling inflation and resilient growth starts to shape more like the 'stagflation' of sticky price gains and crumbling demand.

From Reuters

That provided hope that an expansion in labour supply could ease wage pressures even while hiring stays strong, a true goldilocks scenario for the Fed.

From Reuters

Still, investors' focal point for the week is the U.S. consumer price index amid recent goldilocks data and remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell that's given strength to the economic soft-landing narrative.

From Reuters