New Deal

noun

: the legislative and administrative program of President Franklin D. Roosevelt designed to promote economic recovery and social reform during the 1930s
also : the period of this program
New Dealer noun
New Dealish
-ˈdē-lish How to pronounce New Deal (audio)
adjective
New Dealism
-ˈdē-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce New Deal (audio)
noun

Examples of New Deal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the coming of war and the promise of lucrative federal contracts dramatically reoriented the relationship between industrial capital and the New Deal state. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 Berry contended the artwork, crafted in a public art program during the New Deal by Tanya's maternal aunt, Ann Rice O'Hanlon, showed how Black people were central in building the region. — Courier Journal Staff, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Sep. 2026 Abby Shadden, a 21-year-old Emmanuel College student, similarly pointed to Markey’s co-authorship of the Green New Deal and his early support for Medicare for All. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 That is how the Green New Deal came up at a recent debate between Markey and Moulton, when a voter asked how each candidate would reduce energy prices. — Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for New Deal

Word History

Etymology

from the supposed resemblance to the situation of freshness and equality of opportunity afforded by a fresh deal in a card game

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of New Deal was in 1932

Rhymes for New Deal

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Browse Nearby Words

new-day
New Deal
New Delhi
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Cite this Entry

“New Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/New%20Deal. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on New Deal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about New Deal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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