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Definition of trickledown

trickledown

/ˈtrɪk.əlˌdaʊn/
trick · le · down
Plural:trickledowns
•
Adjective:trickle-down
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trickledown Lexical Profile

trickledown Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to or denoting an economic theory or policy in which financial benefits given to large businesses and wealthy investors are expected to pass down gradually to stimulated economic growth for the broader population.

Example

"Critics argued that the proposed tax cuts relied too heavily on trickledown assumptions that had failed to raise middle-class wages in the past."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

The gradual passing down of wealth, benefits, or influence from the highest levels of an economic or social hierarchy to lower levels.

Example

"Local service workers saw very little trickledown from the luxury resort boom on the island."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for trickledown

Word Nuance & Usage

Most commonly written with a hyphen as "trickle-down" when used as an attributive adjective before a noun (e.g., "trickle-down economics").

• Nearby Words

trickily
trickiness
trickle
trickledown
trickster
tricky
tricolor

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Trickledown. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/trickledown
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