downtime

American  

[doun-tahym] / ˈdaʊnˌtaɪm /

noun

1. a time times during a regular working period when an employee is not actively productive.

2. an interval during which a machine is not productive, as during repair, malfunction, maintenance.

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downtime British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌtaɪm /

noun

1. commerce time during which a machine or plant is not working because it is incapable of production, as when under repair: the term is sometimes used to include all nonproductive time Compare idle time

2. informal time spent not working; spare time

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Etymology

Origin of downtime

First recorded in 1925–30; down ¹ + time

Example Sentences

There was a full open session in Malaysia on United's post-season trip in May, but that whole expedition was not run on fully professional lines given the amount of downtime that was allowed.

From BBC

"It's a really good tool for my son to use because it helps him with that transition from active playtime into downtime," she explains.

From BBC

In a dedication closing out the final episode, a clip from downtime during shooting showed Payne singing and dancing along to One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.”

From Los Angeles Times

And crucially, she adds, parents should schedule downtime as deliberately as activities as it will help you anticipate if you do or don't have time for certain events.

From BBC

"I got approached with this project in 2018. So that basically gave me six, seven years to prepare on and off. In all my downtime, I would train as much as possible," he enthuses.

From BBC

Related Words

• free time
• spare time