downsizing
UK: ˈdaʊn.saɪ.zɪŋ | US: ˈdaʊn.saɪ.zɪŋ
n. the reduction of a company's workforce to cut costs or improve efficiency
n. the act of making something smaller in size or scale
The word "downsizing" emerged in the 1970s, combining "down" (indicating reduction) and "size" (referring to scale or magnitude). The suffix "-ing" nominalizes the action. Originally used in manufacturing contexts, it later expanded to corporate restructuring, reflecting economic trends toward efficiency. The morphemes logically align with the concept of scaling down operations or workforce.
The company announced downsizing to survive the financial crisis.
Downsizing often leads to short-term savings but long-term morale issues.
She experienced downsizing firsthand when her department was eliminated.
The trend of downsizing has affected many industries globally.
Downsizing the project scope helped meet the tight deadline.