downgradient

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adjective

A position down along a gradient from a starting position.

“Monitoring wells are installed downgradient of a contamination source to detect a contaminant plume.”

Opposite
upgradient
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectivedowngradient (comparative more downgradient, superlative most downgradient)

comparative more downgradient · superlative most downgradient

  1. A position down along a gradient from a starting position.
  2. geographya location that receives groundwater from another location; similar to downstream.

    Monitoring wells are installed downgradient of a contamination source to detect a contaminant plume.

adverbdowngradient (comparative more downgradient, superlative most downgradient)

comparative more downgradient · superlative most downgradient

  1. The direction along a gradient.
  2. geographya direction that groundwater flows toward.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
upgradient
Opposite
upgradient

Origin

From down- + gradient.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

downgradient. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/downgradient

MLA

“downgradient.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/downgradient. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “downgradient,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/downgradient.

Source: downgradient on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.