sellout

[ sel-out ]
See synonyms for sellout on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Informal. a person who compromises their personal values, integrity, talent, etc., for money or personal advancement.

  2. Informal. a person who betrays a cause, organization, or the like; traitor.

  1. an act or instance of selling out.

  2. an entertainment, as a show or athletic event, for which all the seats are sold.

Origin of sellout

1
An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase sell out

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sellout in a sentence

  • Carshalton is going too, and, as they can't sell out to any one we don't approve of, the rest insisted on me seeing you.

    Winston of the Prairie | Harold Bindloss
  • After he had married her, he'd sell out this pile of junk and let somebody else haggle with the Injuns and cowpunchers.

    Mystery Ranch | Arthur Chapman
  • He thought he would act as Spitzhase had often recommended, and sell out his shares in small quantities until they were all gone.

    Black Diamonds | Mr Jkai
  • When I got on to my splendid terrace window overlooking the garden I was ready to sell out at any price.

    Ways of War and Peace | Delia Austrian
  • She has agreed to sell out her country, the land she was born in, for hire.

    From Place to Place | Irvin S. Cobb

British Dictionary definitions for sell out

sell out

verb(adverb)
  1. to dispose of (supplies of something) completely by selling: Also (chiefly Brit): sell up

  2. (tr) informal to betray, esp through a secret agreement

  1. (intr) informal to abandon one's principles, standards, etc

nounsellout
  1. informal a performance for which all tickets are sold

  2. a commercial success

  1. informal a betrayal

  2. informal a person who betrays their principles, standards, friends, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with sellout

sellout

Dispose of entirely by selling. For example, The rancher finally sold out to the oil company, or The tickets to the concert were sold out a month ago. [Late 1700s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.