soft landing

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

soft′ land′ing, [Econ.]

1. Economics, Aerospace, Business a slowing down of economic growth at a manageable rate relative to inflation and unemployment.

• 1960–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

soft landing noun

1. a landing by a spacecraft on the moon or a planet at a sufficiently low velocity for the equipment or occupants to remain unharmed
2. a decrease in demand that does not result in a country's economy falling into recession

Compare hard landing