downside
/ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: downsides
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A disadvantageous aspect of something that is normally advantageous.
Noun
Examples
The downside of obtaining a higher rank is that far more work is expected.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A downward tendency, especially in the price of shares etc.
Noun
Examples
The strategy is used both to increase the return on the underlying stock and to provide a limited amount of downside protection.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “downside” mean?
A disadvantageous aspect of something that is normally advantageous.
Is “downside” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.