downsize

[doun-sahyz] /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz/

verb (used with object), downsized, downsizing.

to design or manufacture a smaller version or type of:

The automotive industry downsized its cars for improved fuel economy.

to reduce in number; cut back.

adjective

Also, downsized. being of a smaller size or version:

a downsize car.

Origin

1970-75, Americanism; down¹ + size¹

Can be confused

downsize, fire, lay off, rightsize, terminate.

Examples from the web for downsize

In the last two years, however, helium became a focal point in the messy political struggle to downsize the federal budget.
It has been recently observed that as newspapers downsize their budgets reporting on education has been suffering.
Hold the party, but downsize it to signal that you are sensitive to the hardships around you.
But to process light, he needed to downsize the structure to be comparable to the wavelength of light itself.
As companies downsize and re-engineer themselves, one of the first things to go is basic research.
And you shouldn't necessarily count on being able to sell the big house and downsize to something cheaper.
Consultants were as valuable telling companies how to downsize as they were explaining how to expand.
If you need to sell quickly, to move or downsize, you can end up in big trouble.
Broadsheets that usually look down on tabloids are now rushing to downsize.
They will look to downsize, or rightsize, now that the nest is empty.

British Dictionary definitions for downsize

downsize

/ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz/

verb (transitive) -sizes, -sizing, -sized

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

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

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

Word Origin and History for downsize

1986 in reference to companies shedding jobs; earlier (1975) in reference to U.S. automakers building smaller cars and trucks (supposedly a coinage at General Motors), from down (adv.) + size (v.). Related: Downsized; downsizing.

downsize in Culture

downsize definition

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.”

Note: 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.

Slang definitions & phrases for downsize

downsize

verb

To reduce the size of a company by eliminating employees, in order to increase profits (1980s+)