Definition

Bear (ish/ market) refers to a negative price sentiment, declining prices. It shows a lot of negativity. People are not willing to take risks. People sound very pessimistic in this situation.

Bull (ish/ market) refers to positive sentiment rising prices. It shows a lot of positivity. People sound very optimistic in this situation. People are willing to take risks.

Examples of Usage.

• “People invest more aggressively during bull markets and more conservatively in bear markets not because their risk appetite has grown or shrunk. People are willing to take on more risk during a bull market and make more safe investments during bear markets. One of the differences in the current emotions of the market.”
• “Small-cap tokens have outperformed their bigger cap coins as the bear market has returned to its cave.” 
• “It’s improbable that this bear market can turn into a new bull market.” 

Market sentiment in a picture

Origin of “bull and bear markets”

The words “bear” and “bull” are supposed to come from the different ways that each animal assaults its foes. A bull will raise its horns into the air, whereas a bear will slam down. These activities were then figuratively linked to market movement. Because both creatures are recognized for their enormous and unexpected power, the symbolic meaning that they can significantly impact the markets is derived from that fact. A bull market was defined as one in which the tendency was upward. It was a bear market if the trend was downward.