noun

Markdown

MARK-down

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Markdown (noun) means a lightweight way of formatting plain text using ordinary keyboard characters, so that asterisks around a word make it bold, a hash at the start of a line makes it a heading, and so on. The file stays readable as it is, and software can turn it into formatted output such as a web page. Example: “The README is written in Markdown.”

noun

technical, computing A lightweight way of formatting plain text using ordinary keyboard characters, so that asterisks around a word make it bold, a hash at the start of a line makes it a heading, and so on. The file stays readable as it is, and software can turn it into formatted output such as a web page.

"The README is written in Markdown."

"Most chat apps support a bit of Markdown, so wrapping a word in asterisks makes it bold."

technical, computing A file written in that syntax, normally ending in .md.

"She keeps all her notes as Markdown files in one folder."

retail, business A reduction in the selling price of goods, or the amount by which a price is reduced.

"The winter coats went through a second markdown in January."

"A twenty per cent markdown cleared the last of the stock."

How to use Markdown

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA simple way of typing formatting, like putting stars round a word to make it bold.

When to use it

Capitalised as Markdown when naming the format. The retail sense is an ordinary lower-case noun and unrelated in meaning.

Memory tip

Note the deliberate joke in the name: markup goes up, Markdown goes down.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

markup → HTML → reStructuredText AsciiDoc

Common pairings

written in Markdown Markdown file Markdown syntax render Markdown convert Markdown to HTML

Vocabulary Flow

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “Markdown” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The README is written in _____.

Etymology

Named by John Gruber in 2004 as a play on markup, the general term for adding formatting instructions to plain text.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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lightweight markup language plain-text formatting syntax markup syntax markdown file MD file price cut reduction discount price reduction

Antonyms

markup price rise

Related words

increase addition reduce expensive saving ignore reduction discount

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Markdown and HTML?

Both describe how text should be formatted, but HTML uses explicit tags and can express almost any layout, while Markdown offers a small set of shorthand characters covering the common cases: headings, bold, italics, lists, links and code. Markdown is normally converted into HTML behind the scenes, and most versions let you drop raw HTML in when you need something Markdown cannot express.

Is Markdown a programming language?

No. It gives no instructions and performs no calculations. It is a markup syntax: a way of annotating plain text to say which parts are headings, emphasis, lists or links.

Why are there so many versions of Markdown?

The original 2004 description left a number of cases ambiguous, so different projects filled the gaps in different ways and added their own extras, such as tables and task lists. CommonMark is a later effort to pin the core rules down precisely, and GitHub Flavored Markdown is a widely used extension of it.

What is the meaning of Markdown?

"Markdown" (noun) means a lightweight way of formatting plain text using ordinary keyboard characters, so that asterisks around a word make it bold, a hash at the start of a line makes it a heading, and so on. The file stays readable as it is, and software can turn it into formatted output such as a web page.

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