downside

[ doun-sahyd ]

noun

1. the lower side or part.
2. a downward trend, especially in stock prices.
3. a discouraging or negative aspect.

adjective

1. of or involving a decline, especially in stock prices:

   The downside risk on this stock is considered far greater than the potential for gain.

downside

/ ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the disadvantageous aspect of a situation

   the downside of twentieth-century living

Word History and Origins

Origin of downside¹

First recorded in 1675–85; down ¹ + side ¹

Example Sentences

The downside is that everybody knows this, and therefore, everyone’s already doing it.

From Search Engine Watch

If there’s a downside, it’s that the voters are vulnerable to groupthink.

From FiveThirtyEight

The downside of a constant growth strategy, Hickel says, is that it inevitably pushes up against what scientists call “planetary boundaries.”

From Freakonomics

The only possible downside I can even think of is there aren’t enough trees.

From Voice of San Diego

A downside to this modular approach is that the links between modules can be far slower than the quantum operations going on inside them, even using optical links that run at the speed of light.

From Singularity Hub 

On the other hand, patients may not perceive much downside to taking the medications, even if they may not help much.

From The Daily Beast

On the downside, it rewards them with fodder for nightmares.

From The Daily Beast

The only downside for the Congressman was if their junket became public.

From The Daily Beast

By the time he was called to Washington by the parent club, Marrero was already on the downside of a three-decade pitching career.

From The Daily Beast

As I have found out, recognition has its upside, its downside and—you may say—its backside.

From The Daily Beast

In the last week of the term the Colts played Downside, and Gordon was still young enough to play for them.

From Project Gutenberg

The Downside match is four weeks off, and till then we have to continue this silly farce twice a week.

From Project Gutenberg

She placed cups where plates should go, and turned things upside down and downside up.

From Project Gutenberg

Bird's-foot lotus, another Downside plant, lights up the stones put to represent rockwork with its yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

A year had passed since the two spinster ladies had taken possession of Downside.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disadvantage
• drawback
• flaw
• inconvenience