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

Example Sentences

And in 2018, he used the downtime to bash out the opening scene of a script on his notes app.

From BBC

Then I got sick, then the strikes, and there was all this downtime.

From Salon

It's not like McCullum only spent his downtime from England back at home with rugby, horse racing and wine.

From BBC

The reasons cited included security concerns, unexpected costs, performance issues, compatibility problems and service downtime.

From BBC

Early Sunday afternoon, Independent Presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped a grim offering to his social media followers, revealing an intimate look at how he chooses to spend his downtime.

From Salon

Related Words

• free time
• spare time