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

Democrats have seized on the broad public anxiety over high costs and a slowdown in wage growth in their campaign to retake control of Congress. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

The move comes after 1% revenue declines in the company’s last two quarters, as Moncler Group has weathered luxury’s ongoing slowdown. —Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026

Forecasters predicted a brief slowdown in precipitation in the early afternoon. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026

These developments unfolded during a period marked by broader medtech slowdowns — from regulatory backlogs to lingering effects of the fall government shutdown — as well as a fundraising environment that can be challenging for early-stage medtech companies. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 17 Jan. 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