Words / B2

DOWNS-yd/ˈdaʊnsaɪd/

A downside is the negative side of something that also has benefits: the downside of remote work; every plan has a downside. Disadvantage is close; drawback is already in the dictionary. Upside is the opposite informal twin. Do not use downside for a disaster with no benefits. In evaluations, weigh upside and downside.

Meaning

The negative part of something that also has advantages.

Examples

• “The downside of remote work is weaker informal training.”
• “The downside of the cheaper contract was weaker after-sales support.”
• “There is a downside to publishing fast: errors reach a bigger audience.”

Good to know

the downside of + noun/-ing. Close: disadvantage / drawback. Opposite informal: upside. Mixed situations, not pure harm.

Near in meaning

drawback

New