slowdown

noun

slow·​down ˈslō-ˌdau̇n 

: a slowing down

a business slowdown

Synonyms of slowdown

• decline
• deceleration
• slump
• drop
• retardation

Examples of slowdown in a Sentence

The business had a slowdown after the holidays.

disease experts are encouraged by the recent slowdown in the spread of the virus

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet after this rapid expansion, any potential slowdown in AI demand growth, or efficiency gains that reduce data center power requirements, could introduce significant instability into power grid operations. — CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026

While some tech executives such as Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei have called for an immediate slowdown in the pace of AI development, others say concerns AI will kill humans are overblown. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Any slowdown risks undoing those stock valuations, which would in turn ding household wealth and diminish corporate investment. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

In response to the slowdown, suppliers struggled to keep their prices in line for their business to business clients. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for slowdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

slowdown

noun

slow·​down ˈslō-ˌdau̇n 

: a slowing down

Legal Definition

slowdown

noun

slow·​down ˈslō-ˌdau̇n 

: a slowing down of business operations by employees