Definition
Down payment is the initial payment made when purchasing expensive items like real estate or vehicles. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
You know Down payment is doing work when it changes a weekly choice — price, hire, channel, or kill. The working definition: Initial payment made when purchasing expensive items like real estate or vehicles.
Common mistake
Using Down payment as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Domain expertise
Specialized knowledge and skills in a particular field or industry.
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Domain name
Unique identifier for a website on the internet, such as company.com.
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Downside risk
Potential for investment losses or negative returns in financial markets.
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Downsizing
Reduction in company size, typically through layoffs or facility closures.
Read definition →
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