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Definition of washout

washout

/ˈwɑːʃˌaʊt/
wash · out
Plural:washouts
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washout Lexical Profile

washout Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A disappointing failure, or a person or event that proves to be completely unsuccessful.

Example

"Despite months of expensive marketing, the new product launch turned out to be a total washout."

2

An outdoor event, match, or activity that is ruined, interrupted, or canceled because of heavy rain.

Example

"Persistent downpours all weekend made the annual summer music festival a complete washout."

3

A breach or erosion of a road, railway track, or earthen bank caused by a sudden, heavy flow of water.

Example

"The mountain highway was closed for two weeks while crews repaired a massive washout caused by the flash flood."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

washingtonia
washingtonian
washougal
washout
washrag
washroom
washstand

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century as a noun compound from the phrasal verb 'wash out', originally referring to the erosion of earth or a railway embankment by floodwaters before acquiring its figurative sense of a complete failure during the First World War.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Washout. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/washout
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