downdraft

noun

down·​draft ˈdau̇n-ˌdraft 

1

: a downward current of gas (such as air during a thunderstorm)

2

: decline sense 1

an economic downdraft

Examples of downdraft in a Sentence

a strong downdraft from the thunderstorm

Recent Examples on the Web

The downdraft was despite a Mainland China media report noting that early sales for the 618 (June 18) shopping festival, similar to Singles Day, were up fourfold year-over-year (YoY), with 80,000 brands seeing double the turnover and 500 million orders already placed. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

Target, one of the nation's largest retailers, on Wednesday reported weaker sales for the first quarter and warned of a potential downdraft over the rest of the year as Americans react to U.S. tariffs by pulling back on consumption. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 21 May 2025

The latest downdraft has brought AMGN back to a long-term support area near $260 defining the stock’s trading range. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 19 May 2025

Internet stocks rebounded after yesterday’s downdraft. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downdraft

• abaft
• aircraft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft
• updraft

Kids Definition

downdraft

noun

down·​draft -ˌdraft 

-ˌdrȧft

: a downward current of gas (as air in a chimney or during a thunderstorm)