downtime

[ doun-tahym ]

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.

downtime

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of downtime¹

First recorded in 1925–30; down ¹ + time

Related Words

• free time
• spare time