fall·out
ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere
also
: other polluting particles (such as volcanic ash) descending likewise
b
: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere
2
: a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences
have to take a position and accept the political fallout—
Andy Logan
Andy Logan
fell out; fallen out; falling out; falls out
1
: quarrel
also
: to cut off relations over a quarrel
former friends who have fallen out
3
a
: to leave one's place in the ranks
b
: to leave a building in order to take one's place in a military formation
Examples of fallout in a Sentence
Noun
concerned about the possible political fallout from the scandal
Verb
club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars
I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise.
Recent Examples on the Web
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
This Club name has been hit hard by tariff fallout, including a questionable probe by Chinese regulators.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
The big swing Stocks were up big on Tuesday until the mid-afternoon when the bottom fell out.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fallout
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Noun
Meanwhile, the long-term fallout of Trump's existing tariff announcements is yet to be seen.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
This Club name has been hit hard by tariff fallout, including a questionable probe by Chinese regulators.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
As the skin became more brittle, the hair fell out and the fatty layer beneath began to show more through the years, the white color faded, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
The big swing Stocks were up big on Tuesday until the mid-afternoon when the bottom fell out.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fallout
Cite this Entry
“Fallout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fallout. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fallout
1 of 2 noun
fall·out
ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t
: the often radioactive particles that are stirred up by or result from a nuclear explosion and descend through the atmosphere
fall out
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)fȯ-ˈlau̇t
1
: to have a quarrel
2
Medical Definition
fallout
noun
fall·out
ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t
1
: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere
also
: other polluting particles (as volcanic ash) descending likewise
2
: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere
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