0 (something that causes) the usually sudden destruction of a person, organization, or government and their loss of power, money, or health: --
In the end, it was the continual drinking that was his downfall.
Rampant corruption brought about the downfall of the government.
1 something that causes the destruction of a person, organization, or government and that causes a loss of power, money, or health: --
In the end, ambition was his downfall.
Thus, the incompetence of the monarchs of the ancien regimes in managing socio-economic change led to their downfall.
As well as its advantages, such an aesthesic approach also has its downfalls.
A cabinet crisis (for example, over a policy issue) is not the only route to downfall of a cabinet.
This rejection of staff notation was to prove the ultimate downfall of the system.
These facets were both its strength and downfall.
His active cultivation of music in fact eventually led to his downfall.
Disarmament was and is tied absolutely to the issue of security, and this was always likely to be its downfall during this period.
And the darkened tones around it foretell that her lover's downfall will be linked to how he treats this symbolic beast.
