downsizing

[doun-sahy-zing]

noun

1. the act or process of reducing the number of something, such as employees or participants, usually as a cost-cutting measure.

   The company’s downsizing eliminated approximately 39% of all executive positions.

2. the act or process of replacing something larger with something smaller, such as moving into a smaller house.

   With the housing market in shambles, it would be difficult to sell our house, so downsizing is not really an option right now.

Word History and Origins

Origin of downsizing¹

downsiz(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

There are two big caveats, in addition to a mortgage payment that would be almost unchanged: You can’t keep downsizing, so this may be your one chance to do so.

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In a test of political and managerial will, he oversaw major reductions in the Defense budget, a profound downsizing of forces and the closing of obsolete military bases.

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Of course, downsizing your lawn yields another upside: more time to enjoy them.

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By royal standards, it is a modest home - and certainly a downsizing from the mansion that Prince Andrew has been used to.

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The layoffs, to be rolled out next week, mark the retailer's first major downsizing in a decade and will slash roughly 8% of its global corporate workforce.

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