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

Williams describes it as looking for a “Goldilocks zone.”

From Slate

So, for many employers, setting rules for how often workers must come to the office has turned into a tricky search for a Goldilocks formula that will keep both bosses and workers reasonably happy — or at least not in open conflict.

From Los Angeles Times

Michelle Obama instructed Democrats not to have a “Goldilocks complex” by picking apart imperfections with their ticket.

From Slate

“We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right,” she said.

From Salon

“We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right,” she said.

From Slate