downfall

About 2.05 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A precipitous decline in fortune; death or rapid deterioration, as in status or wealth.

   Many economic and political reasons led to the downfall of the Roman Empire.

2. noun The cause of such a fall; a critical blow or error.
3. noun An act of falling down.

   a downfall of rain

4. verb To fall down; deteriorate; decline.

Similar words

fall precipitation breakdown downturn decrease destruction decline ruination wreck ruin

Often followed by

of and in was is to as by had

Word family

downfallen downfalls