A credit squeeze refers to a situation where there is a reduction in the availability of credit from banks and other financial institutions. This can result in a slowdown in economic activity, as businesses and individuals are unable to access the funds they need to invest and grow. Synonyms for credit squeeze include credit crunch, credit tightening, and credit contraction. Other related terms include financial austerity, lending restrictions, and credit restrictions. These terms are all used to describe the same phenomenon, and are often used interchangeably in discussions of the state of the economy and the availability of credit.