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

Her videos shared an intimate view of her family's life and had more than 2.5 million subscribers before her downfall. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025

The new paper doesn’t solve the mystery of whether lead poisoning played a role in Rome’s downfall. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025

Melania Trump will be the focus of an upcoming Prime Video documentary directed by Brett Ratner, who will make his return behind the camera for the first time since his #MeToo era downfall seven years ago. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 5 Jan. 2025

As fate would have it, the architect of the Ducks’ downfall in the quarterfinal was none other than the architect who helped construct the Ducks’ rise in the sport. —Christopher Kamrani, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 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