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lowdown Meaning & Definition

What Does Lowdown Mean?

Lowdown is used as a noun meaning Information (the story [on something], the truth [about something]), especially inside information and especially a summary of it that glosses over its minor details. It is also used to mean A lowlife, a despicable person. As an adjective, it means Unfair; scoundrelly; shameful. As an adverb, it means Unfairly; dishonourably; in a deceitful or mean manner.

Lowdown: Key Facts

Part of speechnoun, adjective, adverb
Synonymsdirt and scoop
Comparative / superlativemore lowdown, most lowdown

Lowdown Definition (Noun)

  1. Information (the story [on something], the truth [about something]), especially inside information and especially a summary of it that glosses over its minor details.

    All the reporters hoped to be the first to get the lowdown on the celebrity's marriage plans.

  2. A lowlife, a despicable person.

Lowdown as an Adjective

  1. Unfair; scoundrelly; shameful.

    lowdown tactics

  2. seedy, sketchy, disreputable
  3. down low; purporting to be heterosexual while engaged in sex with men.

Lowdown as an Adverb

  1. Unfairly; dishonourably; in a deceitful or mean manner.

Noun

  1. The story or truth.

    All the reporters hoped to be the first to get the lowdown on the celebrity's marriage plans.

Adjective

  1. Unfair; shameful.

    lowdown tactics

Synonyms of Lowdown

dirtscoop
Lowdown synonyms and antonyms →

Lowdown in a Sentence

All the reporters hoped to be the first to get the lowdown on the celebrity's marriage plans.

here's the lowdown

to give somebody the lowdown

lowdown tactics

Word Forms & Grammar

lowdown (uncountable)

lowdown (comparative more lowdown, superlative most lowdown)

Words That Rhyme With Lowdown

frowncrowndownrenowntownletdowntone downbreak downmeltdownlie downsimmer downsettle downbrowncut downput downshowdownsundownturn downbring downpare downbreakdowngownhands downrub downrun-downslow downnail downhunt downbatten downlet down

Origin of Lowdown

Compound adjective of low +‎ down in the sense of "humble" recorded in the 1540s, in the sense of "vulgar, far down the social scale" in 1888. Recorded as a noun in 1915 in the slang sense of secret or inside information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lowdown

Is lowdown a noun or an adjective?

Lowdown is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective and an adverb.

What is another word for lowdown?

You can replace lowdown with words such as dirt and scoop. See the full list of lowdown synonyms and antonyms.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of lowdown?

The comparative form is more lowdown and the superlative form is most lowdown.