downtime
UK: ˈdaʊn.taɪm | US: ˈdaʊn.taɪm
n. a period when a system, machine, or activity is not functioning or operating
n. (informal) leisure time or a break from work
The word "downtime" emerged in the early 20th century, combining "down" (from Old English dūne, meaning "lowered" or "inactive") with "time" (from Old English tīma, meaning "duration"). Originally used in industrial contexts to describe periods when machinery was non-functional, it later expanded to general usage for any inactive or leisure period. The logic reflects the literal "down" state of systems or productivity, paired with the measurable "time" of interruption.
The factory scheduled maintenance during downtime to avoid disrupting production.
After a busy week, she enjoyed some downtime with a book.
The server experienced unexpected downtime due to a power outage.
Employees are encouraged to take short downtime breaks to recharge.
The software update caused minimal downtime for users.