downforce

British

/ ˈdaʊnˌfɔːs /

noun

a force produced by air resistance plus gravity that increases the stability of an aircraft or motor vehicle by pressing it downwards

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They are smaller and have less downforce, so they slide more in corners, and look more agile.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

The cars are also smaller and lighter, have less downforce and have 'active aerodynamics' - where both front and rear wings open on the straights to increase speed and the possibility for energy recovery.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Active aero: The front and rear wings adjust angles - open on the straights for low drag and speed, and closed in the corners for maximum downforce.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

That's because the cars have become more sophisticated, and have developed more and more downforce.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

Then, final practice and qualifying on Friday were wet, so the cars would be slower and therefore have less downforce acting on them and not wear the floor as much as if it was dry.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023