slowdown
Americannoun
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a slowing down or delay in progress, action, etc.
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a deliberate slowing of pace by workers to win demands from their employers.
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Sports. a holding or passing tactic by a team to retain possession of the ball, puck, etc., or use up a maximal amount of time, as to safeguard a lead or thwart a high-scoring opponent.
noun
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the usual US and Canadian word for go-slow
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any slackening of pace
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of slowdown
First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase slow down
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.
See Examples For:
Disney executive Thomas Mazloum said earlier this year Disneyland’s high percentage of California visitors — typically more than 50% of its audience — has helped mitigate a slowdown in international visitation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Stronger inflows in its private-equity and other businesses helped offset a slowdown in its private-credit unit, which has been contending with a pullback in interest among individual investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
SSAB’s production and shipments were somewhat higher on year, but it expects to see a seasonal slowdown in demand during the third quarter, and it will carry out planned maintenance across all steel divisions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Analysts' consensus forecast had been for a slowdown to 2.7 percent last month.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
It was too early in the half to get into a slowdown but that was what they were doing.
From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers
GE Aerospace raised its outlook but said supply-chain issues continue to cause production delays and delivery slowdowns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
If you are gaming or streaming, a VPN can hide your activity from your ISP, potentially avoiding network slowdowns.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
Most critics have yet to share reviews of Iceman and Drake's two other new releases, but reports suggest that streaming services were hit with crashes and slowdowns as fans rushed to hear his new music.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
The S&P 500 faces increased correction risk from potential slowdowns in AI investment, higher bond yields, and inflation.
From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026
Solution: investment in machinery that moved slaughtered livestock from one place to the next, eliminating slowdowns.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
