Meaning of the word "Credit crunch" in English

What does "Credit crunch" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

Credit crunch

US /ˈkred.ɪt ˌkrʌntʃ/
UK /ˈkred.ɪt ˌkrʌntʃ/

Noun

a sudden sharp reduction in the availability of money or credit from banks and other lenders

Example:
The global financial crisis of 2008 was largely caused by a severe credit crunch.
Businesses struggled to get loans during the recent credit crunch.