black·out
ˈblak-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: a turning off of the stage lighting to separate scenes in a play or end a play or skit
also
: a skit that ends with a blackout
b
: a period of darkness enforced as a precaution against air raids
c
: a period of darkness (as in a city) caused by a failure of electrical power
2
: a transient dulling or loss of vision, consciousness, or memory
an alcoholic blackout
3
a
: a wiping out : obliteration
b
: a blotting out by censorship : suppression
a news blackout
4
: a usually temporary loss of a radio signal
5
: the prohibition or restriction of the telecasting of a sports event
6
: a time during which a special commercial offer (as of tickets) is not valid
—usually used attributively
blackout dates
blacked out; blacking out; blacks out
1
2
: to envelop in darkness
black out the stage
3
: to make inoperative (as by a power failure)
4
: to impose a blackout on
blacked out the local game
1
: to become enveloped in darkness
2
: to undergo a temporary loss of vision, consciousness, or memory
Synonyms
Examples of blackout in a Sentence
Noun
the blackouts of World War II
She keeps flashlights and candles handy in case of a blackout.
He told his doctor he had been experiencing blackouts.
Verb
had spent most of her adulthood trying to black out memories of a wretched childhood
with the delivery of the knockout punch, the screen blacks out, and in the next scene the boxer wakes up in the hospital
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
As companies anticipate potential energy shortages or blackouts, nuclear energy and other advanced solutions are emerging as strategies to keep operations running smoothly.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
Late on Monday, people began blacking out and collapsing—just one at first, then 30 and then 60.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for blackout 
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Noun
Additionally, the island is prone to blackouts and water disruptions, which the family has learned to navigate.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
As companies anticipate potential energy shortages or blackouts, nuclear energy and other advanced solutions are emerging as strategies to keep operations running smoothly.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
The station was blacked out only for viewers who use over-the-air antennas for television.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
Late on Monday, people began blacking out and collapsing—just one at first, then 30 and then 60.
—Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for blackout
Dictionary Entries Near blackout
Cite this Entry
“Blackout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackout. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blackout
noun
black·out
ˈblak-ˌau̇t
1
: a period when lights are kept off to guard against enemy airplane attack in a war
2
: a period when lights are off as a result of an electrical power failure
3
: a temporary dulling or loss of vision or consciousness
black out
verb
-ˈau̇t
Medical Definition
blackout
1 of 2 noun
black·out
ˈblak-ˌau̇t
black out
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to cause to black out
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