What is downwash in the context of flight?

Downwash refers to the downward movement of air that occurs as a result of the lift generated by an aircraft's wing. When an airplane is in flight, the wing shapes and angles cause air to accelerate above and below the wing, creating low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. As a consequence, the air that is pushed downward behind the wing is referred to as downwash. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding how lift is generated and how an aircraft interacts with the surrounding air.

Downwash plays a significant role in airflow, stability, and control of the aircraft, influencing the behavior of other nearby aircraft as well. While the other concepts related to airflow and flight dynamics are important, they do not accurately define the specific phenomenon of air moving downwards as a direct effect of lift generated by the wings during flight.