downcycle

American  

[daun-sahy-kuhl] / ˈdaʊnˌsaɪ kəl /

noun

1. Economics. a period or cycle during which business activity or profitability is at a low point.

   Energy companies are facing increased cost pressure to get through the current market downcycle.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to process (used goods or waste material) in order to produce something of lesser quality because the original material cannot be recycled into something of the same or better quality.

   The plastic bottles can't be reused, but some companies downcycle them into bags.

Etymology

Origin of downcycle

First recorded in 1975–80; down ¹ + cycle

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downcycle

But with Chinese capacity looming on the horizon, the clock is ticking for memory makers to secure their long-term dominance before the inevitable downcycle begins.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Looking back, Micron’s sales declined 49% and the company lost $5.34 a share in fiscal 2023, during the most recent downcycle for the computer memory and storage industry.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

So that means, historically, the current downcycle beginning in the second quarter of 2023 should be ending now.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 6, 2026

The PlayStation 5, which launched in 2020, is "in the downcycle of its lifespan", analyst David Cole of DFC Intelligence told AFP.

From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2025

"Apart from the expected slowdown in the advanced economies, the electronics downcycle is likely to be deeper and more prolonged than earlier projected," Lim told a press conference.

From Reuters ● May 25, 2023

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---