downstate

American  

[doun-steyt, doun-steyt] / ˈdaʊnˈsteɪt, ˈdaʊnˌsteɪt /

noun

1. the southern part of a U.S. state.

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adjective

1. located in or characteristic of this part.

   The downstate precincts reported early.

adverb

1. in, to, or into the downstate area.

   We're going downstate for the holidays.

downstate British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌsteɪt /

adjective

1. in, or relating to the part of the state away from large cities, esp the southern part

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adverb

1. towards the southern part of a state

noun

1. the southern part of a state

Other Word Forms

• downstater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of downstate

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10; down ¹ + state

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downstate

He toured its innovation center in Glenview, Ill., and an 88‑acre operation downstate in Champaign that churns out over one billion pounds of Heinz Ketchup, Kraft Mac and Cheese and Kraft Mayo each year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

The competitors were vying for up to three downstate casino licenses, all of which now look set to be awarded.

From Barron's ● Dec. 1, 2025

When the time was right, Thornton would divert the water from the Cache la Poudre River that irrigated that farmland, put it in a pipeline and send it downstate.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 5, 2023

The downstate suburbs became trapped in a vicious cycle of population decline and increased property taxes.

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2023

We spoke on the phone every night he was downstate, comparing notes and swapping tales about our respective days.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama