downsize

American  

[doun-sahyz] / ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz /

verb (used with object)

downsized, downsizing

1. to design or manufacture a smaller version or type of.

   The automotive industry downsized its cars for improved fuel economy.

2. to reduce in size or number; cut back.

   Many small businesses are forced to downsize their workforce during a slow economy.

3. to dismiss (an employee); lay off or fire.

   After I was downsized from my marketing position, I took to substitute teaching to make a little money.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to become smaller in size or number.

   The military is downsizing— reducing overseas deployments—and as a result is spending less on supplies.

2. to move into a smaller residence.

   Retirees are downsizing these days, giving up oversized and empty nests for apartments that are easier to care for.

adjective

1. Also downsized being of a smaller size or version.

   a downsize car.

downsize British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz /

verb

1. to reduce the operating costs of a company by reducing the number of people it employs

2. to reduce the size of or produce a smaller version of (something)

3. to upgrade (a computer system) by replacing a mainframe or minicomputer with a network of microcomputers Compare rightsize

---

downsize Cultural  

1. To reduce in number, especially personnel: “The company decided to downsize half the workers in the aircraft division.” It can also be used in reference to objects: “I decided to downsize my wardrobe and threw out all my old T-shirts.”

---

Discover More

Downsize is a recent euphemism for “fire, lay off.” Company managers often use this term in an attempt to soften the blow of wide-scale layoffs.

Etymology

Origin of downsize

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; down ¹ + size ¹

Example Sentences

CVS over the past few years has undergone a significant downsizing of its footprint.

From The Wall Street Journal

Compounding the problem, her record label had downsized during the pandemic, and the people who'd nurtured her first record had left.

From BBC

Citing AI when downsizing can make a company seem ahead of the curve and boost its stock value.

From The Wall Street Journal

The states allege that HUD’s targeting of state antidiscrimination policies comes after it downsized its own workforce and significantly reduced its ability to investigate housing discrimination complaints and enforce fair housing laws.

From Los Angeles Times

My house was appraised at $1.8 million, and we could sell it and downsize if I needed the equity.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• curtail
• cut back
• cut down
• diminish
• phase out
• reduce
• retrench
• scale down
• shrink
• trim