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How Do You Spell "Downfall"?

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    DOWNFALL is the correct spelling. As you can see, it comes from the words FALL and DOWN, with no changes in spelling. However, downfall has a completely different meaning from "fall down."

    It means a fall, usually sudden, from riches, power or a position of respect, eg a leading politician who is suddenly disgraced and loses his/ her job:  "He seemed so powerful and secure that his downfall took everybody by surprise." It can also refer to the cause of a fall from power, eg "He made a lot of money, but lost it again: compulsive gambling was his downfall."

    Typically, the word downfall implies that the loss/ fall/ misfortune is somehow the person's own fault: it is related to old sayings like "Pride goes before a fall" or "The higher you aim, the farther you fall."
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    answered 3 years ago

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