The invention provides a 
viscosity-reduction type polycarboxylate 
water reducer and a preparation method thereof, and relates to the technical field of concrete admixtures. Through the technical scheme, the 
water reducer is essentially formed by copolymerizing unsaturated polyoxyethylene glycol 
ether macromonomers, unsaturated acid monomers and modified monomers containing ester groups under the effect of a 
redox system and a 
chain transfer agent, wherein the modified monomers containing ester groups comprise esters of 
salicylic acid and 
maleic anhydride. The 
viscosity-reduction type polycarboxylate 
water reducer synthesized in the invention is simple in technology, low in cost and easy to operate, and has good dispersibility and dispersion retainability, so that the requirement of long-distance transportation is met; when the water 
reducer is applied to high-performance concrete, the 
viscosity reduction effect is obvious, the viscosity of high grade concrete can be reduced effectively, the 
slump retainability of concrete is improved, the rheological property and working performance of concrete are improved, and the water 
reducer is particularly applicable for preparing high-strength, superhigh-strength and self-compact concrete. Moreover, the water 
reducer has broad adaptability for different cements and aggregates.