downfall

noun

down·​fall ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl 

1

a

: a sudden fall (as from power)

b

: a fall (as of snow or rain) especially when sudden or heavy

2

: something that causes a downfall (as of a person)

gambling was his downfall

downfallen

ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯ-lən 

adjective

Synonyms

• death
• destruction
• ruin
• ruination
• undoing

Examples of downfall in a Sentence

Their downfall was the result of several bad decisions.

Bad decision-making was their downfall.

Recent Examples on the Web

The downfall of Emilia Pérez The team behind Emilia Pérez at the 2025 Golden Globes. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025

Despite her two court appearances in 2019, Gibson has rarely been seen since her public downfall. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025

Some of the show looks backward from the other side of Gibson’s downfall, while some moves forward from her humble origins and still more takes place in media res, at her apex. —Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025

Like Lyles, the Marshall family matriarch seized the opportunities presented by the Confederacy’s downfall to begin searching for her children, though initially without success. —Robert Colby, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

downfall

noun

down·​fall ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl 

1

: fall sense 2c

especially : a sudden or heavy fall (as of rain)

2

: a fall (as from power, happiness, or high position) or a cause of such a fall

downfallen

-ˌfȯ-lən 

adjective