downdraft

noun

down·​draft ˈdau̇n-ˌdraft 

1

: a downward current of gas (such as air during a thunderstorm)

2

: decline sense 1

an economic downdraft

Examples of downdraft in a Sentence

a strong downdraft from the thunderstorm

Recent Examples on the Web

The downdraft in stocks is causing angst among people saving for retirement, experts say. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2025

Sparking the downdraft was Trump’s promise to slap high tariffs on top trading partners, including China, Mexico and Canada, along with mass firings of government workers. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025

Key News Asian equities were mostly lower overnight following the downdraft on Wall Street yesterday as the Philippines and Thailand outperformed and Japan and Australia underperformed. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Currently, Sears is continuing to refine the downdraft table and is leaving the recipes up to the professionals. —Sarah Miller, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downdraft

• abaft
• aircraft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft
• schoolcraft
• spacecraft
• stagecraft
• statecraft
• updraft

Kids Definition

downdraft

noun

down·​draft -ˌdraft 

-ˌdrȧft

: a downward current of gas (as air in a chimney or during a thunderstorm)