downsize

American  

[doun-sahyz] / ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz /

verb (used with object)

downsized, downsizing

1. to design or manufacture a smaller version or type of.

   The automotive industry downsized its cars for improved fuel economy.

2. to reduce in size or number; cut back.

   Many small businesses are forced to downsize their workforce during a slow economy.

3. to dismiss (an employee); lay off or fire.

   After I was downsized from my marketing position, I took to substitute teaching to make a little money.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become smaller in size or number.

   The military is downsizing— reducing overseas deployments—and as a result is spending less on supplies.

2. to move into a smaller residence.

   Retirees are downsizing these days, giving up oversized and empty nests for apartments that are easier to care for.

adjective

1. Also downsized being of a smaller size or version.

   a downsize car.

downsize British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to reduce the operating costs of a company by reducing the number of people it employs

2. to reduce the size of or produce a smaller version of (something)

3. to upgrade (a computer system) by replacing a mainframe or minicomputer with a network of microcomputers Compare rightsize

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downsize Cultural  

1. To reduce in number, especially personnel: “The company decided to downsize half the workers in the aircraft division.” It can also be used in reference to objects: “I decided to downsize my wardrobe and threw out all my old T-shirts.”

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Discover More

Downsize is a recent euphemism for “fire, lay off.” Company managers often use this term in an attempt to soften the blow of wide-scale layoffs.

Etymology

Origin of downsize

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; down ¹ + size ¹

Explanation

To downsize is to make something smaller. You might downsize your collection of vintage china by selling everything that's nicked or chipped. You can downsize the items you own by giving them away, and you can downsize your living situation by moving from a huge house to a very small apartment. When a company downsizes, it almost always means it's reducing the number of employees, making the company smaller by laying them off. This last meaning has only been around since the 1980s.

Example Sentences

WME, the Beverly Hills-based talent agency, continues to downsize.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

If you can afford to buy another house and/or downsize, your daughter is more likely to receive your share with JTWROS.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

“I was like, ‘OK, I need to downsize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Among the obstacles are whether manufacturers can keep prices low, make the vehicles safe enough and if big-car-loving Americans can be convinced to downsize.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

As indicated earlier, any effort to downsize dramatically our nation’s prisons would inspire fierce resistance by those faced with losing jobs, investments, and other benefits provided by the current system.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• curtail
• cut back
• cut down
• diminish
• phase out
• reduce
• retrench
• scale down
• shrink
• trim