Plain English Meaning

When a wing makes lift, it pushes air downward as it passes by. That downward-flowing air behind the wing is called induced downwash. It only exists because the wing is producing lift.

Full Definition

The downward deflection of airflow behind a wing that is producing lift. As the wing generates lift, higher-pressure air beneath it spills around the wingtips into the lower-pressure area above, and the bulk airflow leaving the trailing edge is angled downward. This downward-deflected airflow is called induced downwash, and it is the direct by-product of producing lift.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of wingtip vortices, induced drag, slow flight, and high angle-of-attack .