# slowdown

/ˈsɫoʊˌdaʊn/ (US) · /slˈəʊdaʊn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slowdown
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a situation where something starts to move or happen more slowly than before. You often hear this word when talking about the economy or a computer.

For teachers: a reduction in the speed or rate of activity, progress, or production. Often used in economic contexts to describe a period of reduced growth or in technical contexts regarding performance.

## Examples

- The factory experienced a production slowdown last month.
- Economists are worried that the recent slowdown in consumer spending might lead to a recession.
- The software update was designed to fix a significant system slowdown that occurred whenever multiple high-resolution video streams were processed simultaneously.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with 'in' to specify the area of reduced activity, such as a 'slowdown in growth' or a 'slowdown in traffic'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.