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

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

Mason had been part of forming the band — named for a verse in 2 Corinthians — when he was 18 with some friends from Greenville University, a small Christian school in downstate Illinois.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2023

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

From Slate • Aug. 3, 2023

Masons who worked on the courthouse downstate came back hungry, seamstresses returned from daywork for local white ladies and put on their nice dresses.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead