downvote
C1Informal (chiefly Internet/technology)
Definition
Meaning
To express disapproval of an online post or comment by clicking a specific button or icon.
To negatively evaluate or mark something (digital content, an idea, a proposal) as poor or disagreeable, often within a structured rating system.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb or countable noun (a downvote). Its use is tightly bound to participatory online platforms with rating systems (e.g., Reddit, Stack Exchange).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The concept and term are universally used in English-language internet communities.
Connotations
Implies a communal judgment or peer review. Can carry connotations of censorship, groupthink, or disagreement depending on context.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US internet vernacular due to the global nature of major platforms.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[User] downvotes [post/comment].[Post] was downvoted (by [User]).to downvote [someone] for [reason]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “downvote into oblivion”
- “downvote brigade”
- “a wave of downvotes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; may be used metaphorically in discussions about crowd-sourced feedback on products or ideas.
Academic
Rare; occasionally appears in papers studying online communities and social media dynamics.
Everyday
Common in everyday online discourse among users of forums, social news sites, and Q&A platforms.
Technical
Core terminology in software development for features implementing user feedback systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I decided to downvote the rude comment.
- If you see spam, just downvote it.
- The community tends to downvote low-effort posts.
American English
- I'm going to downvote that inaccurate answer.
- Don't just downvote because you disagree.
- The mods warned users not to downvote indiscriminately.
adjective
British English
- It was a heavily downvoted thread.
- The downvote button is greyed out.
- He made a downvote-worthy claim.
American English
- A downvoted comment often gets hidden.
- The downvote feature is enabled here.
- That's a downvote magnet if I've ever seen one.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a bad post, so I pressed downvote.
- My comment got three downvotes because people didn't understand my joke.
- Should I downvote if the information is wrong?
- The controversial opinion was quickly downvoted into negative territory.
- A coordinated downvote campaign can unfairly hide useful content.
- The platform's algorithm weights a downvote from a high-karma user more heavily.
- Sociologists study downvote patterns as a form of digital social sanction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'thumbs-down' gesture moving DOWN onto a VOTE button.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISAPPROVAL IS A DOWNWARD MOTION / SOCIAL STANDING IS VERTICAL POSITION (downvoted content sinks, upvoted content rises).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'нижний голос' or 'голос вниз'. The standard translation is 'дизлайк' or the descriptive 'поставить минус'.
- Do not confuse with 'проголосовать против' which is for formal elections, not online interactions.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'downvote' as a mass noun (e.g., 'He got a lot of downvote') – it is countable.
- Confusing 'downvote' (action) with 'downvoter' (the person).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a 'downvote' on most platforms?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a widely accepted neologism in the context of internet and digital communication, found in many online dictionaries.
Yes, e.g., 'The post received hundreds of downvotes.'
The direct opposite is 'upvote'.
No, it is most characteristic of forum-style sites like Reddit and Stack Exchange. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram typically have only 'like' or 'heart' reactions.