downstate

noun

down·​state ˈdau̇n-ˌstāt 

: the chiefly southerly sections of a state

also : the chiefly rural part of a state when the major metropolitan area is to the north

downstate

ˈdau̇n-ˈstāt 

adjective or adverb

downstater

ˈdau̇n-ˈstā-tər 

noun

Examples of downstate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s why New Yorkers across the state are demanding the governor commit $200 million for public renewable energy in the state’s 2026 budget, including at least 30% for projects located downstate. —Diana Moreno, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026

Bailey, of downstate Louisville, is one of four candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor in the March 17 primary, along with conservative activist Ted Dabrowski, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and real estate developer Rick Heidner. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

By then, local landfills were filling up, and garbage was being shipped downstate or even out of state. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

New Illinois believes an independent downstate Illinois could thrive economically. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for downstate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate