In the financial context, “hawk” or “hawkish” refers to a policy stance taken by a central bank or monetary authority that emphasizes on tighter monetary policy to control inflation. In other words, a hawkish central bank is more concerned about controlling inflation than promoting economic growth, and it might raise interest rates or reduce the money supply to achieve that objective. The term “hawkish” is often used in contrast to “dovish,” which refers to a more accommodative monetary policy stance that focuses on stimulating economic growth even if it means tolerating higher inflation.