downswing

American

[doun-swing] / ˈdaʊnˌswɪŋ /

noun

a downward swing, as of a golf club in driving a ball.
a downward trend or decrease, as of business or a nation's birth rate.

downswing British

/ ˈdaʊnˌswɪŋ /

noun

a statistical downward trend in business activity, the death rate, etc
golf the downward movement or line of a club when striking the ball

"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

Etymology

Origin of downswing

First recorded in 1895–1900; down ¹ + swing ¹

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.

Oil prices ended 2025 on a downswing, hurting results.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Most prices are on the downswing, he argued.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

“It could have been an honest mistake on their part,” Pigott said of the statistical downswing.

From Salon • May 23, 2025

A combination of good relationships, opportunity and Ireland being a minor meal ticket for famous pros on the downswing played a role in bringing one of the greats to the League of Ireland.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2023

Her own sword was not to hand, so she snatched Renly's from its scabbard and raised it to catch Em- mon's axe on the downswing.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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