Downside
/ˈdaʊn.saɪd/
Definitions
A disadvantage or negative aspect of a situation or thing.
/ˈdaʊn.saɪd/
A disadvantage or negative aspect of something.
The downside to living in a big city is the noise and crowds.
💡 Simply: Imagine you really want a new video game, but the downside is that it costs a lot of money. The downside is the negative part, the thing you're not so happy about.
👶 For kids: The bad part of something. Like, the downside of staying up late is you're tired the next day.
More Examples
The report highlighted the potential downside of the new policy.
Despite the benefits, the company acknowledged the downside risks associated with the expansion.
How It's Used
"The downside of investing in this company is the high risk."
"One downside of living in the city is the high cost of living."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
the downside risk
The potential for losses or negative outcomes.
"Investors need to carefully evaluate the downside risk before making a decision."
From 'down' + 'side'. The concept of a negative or less desirable aspect, appearing in the late 20th century, particularly in business and economics.
The word's use increased significantly in the late 20th century, particularly in financial and business contexts.
Memory tip
Think of the 'down' part of 'downside' as things that weigh you down or make a situation less ideal.
Word Origin
"'down' - denoting a lower position or negative direction; 'side' - referring to a particular aspect or viewpoint."