downcycle

American  

[doun-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.

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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

New long-term supply agreements are seen as highly favorable for memory producers, mitigating future downcycle risk.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Analog chips, which are used in automobiles, appliances and other consumer electronics, are staging a comeback after a multiyear downcycle.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 31, 2026

While a downcycle is expected eventually, Curtis said he sees “no clear end in sight” and that the current supply-demand dynamic will likely fall “even more out of balance.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 30, 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