# smackdown

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsmækdaʊn/ · frequency rank #19,466

## Definitions
1. A physical or emotional confrontation; a battle, a fight; also, a bitter rivalry.
2. A significant or humiliating setback or defeat; a beating, a thrashing.

## Etymology
Deverbal from smack down (“to defeat utterly and decisively, especially in a humiliating way”), from smack (“sharp blow, slap”, noun) + down. Influenced by earlier throwdown. Popularized by:
* the United States professional wrestling television programme WWF SmackDown! (first broadcast on April 29, 1999), now called WWE SmackDown and produced by World Wrestling Entertainment; and
* the phrase lay (or put) the smack down (“to start a fight”).

## Common misspellings (15)
`msackdown`, `samckdown`, `smacckdown`, `smacdkown`, `smackddown`, `smackdonw`, `smackdownn`, `smackdowwn`, `smackdwon`, `smackkdown`, `smackodwn`, `smakcdown`, `smcakdown`, `smmackdown`, `ssmackdown`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/smackdown