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 birth of house music in the 1980s was also, in part, a response to the heyday, and unceremonious downfall, of disco, another genre that had distinctly Black origins before garnering more mainstream attention via white artists and culture. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

Now, Paris is speaking out about how the movie contributed to their downfall. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 13 June 2025

After six decades on Illinois’ public stage, Michael Madigan’s likely last act will be his sentencing in a courtroom Friday After decades in politics and a stunning downfall, Michael Madigan will appear Friday for what likely will be his last public act: his sentencing. —Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025

Cuomo was widely faulted at the time for contributing to the political downfall of Paterson, the state’s first Black governor, who ultimately never faced charges for the alleged wrongdoing. —Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for downfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

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