The negative aspect or disadvantage of something; the bad side of a situation.
A compound word from 'down' (lower, negative) plus 'side' (direction or aspect). Created in modern English, probably in the mid-1900s, as a natural opposite to 'upside.' It follows the pattern of other directional compounds like 'upbeat' and 'upturn'.
This word perfectly mirrors 'upside,' creating a balanced pair that lets us weigh both sides of any situation. Business and finance adopted it heavily because it sounds neutral and measured—better than saying 'the bad parts,' it implies professional analysis.
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