Definition
Circuit breaker is the trading halt mechanism to prevent excessive market volatility and panic selling. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
In a Monday review, someone writes Circuit breaker on the board and restates it: “Trading halt mechanism to prevent excessive market volatility and panic selling.” The next move is a test, a cut, or a double-down — not another debate about the word.
Common mistake
Using Circuit breaker as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
Executive responsible for technology strategy and technical operations.
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Child Care Leave
Paid or unpaid time off work to care for a child or family member.
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Circular flow of economic activity
Model showing how money, goods, and services flow between households and firms.
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Circular flow of income
Economic model illustrating the continuous flow of money through an economy.
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