kaput

American  

[kah-poot, -poot, kuh-] / kɑˈpʊt, -ˈput, kə- /

adjective

Slang.

1. ruined; done for; demolished.

2. unable to operate or continue.

   The washing machine is suddenly kaput.

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idioms

1. go kaput, to cease functioning; break down.

   The old car finally went kaput.

kaput British  

/ kæˈpʊt /

adjective

1. informal (postpositive) ruined, broken, or not functioning

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Etymology

Origin of kaput

First recorded in 1890–95; from German: originally, “trickless” (in game of piquet), from French (être) capot “(to be) without tricks,” i.e., make zero score

Example Sentences

Jerry Seinfeld, who presumably knows a thing or two about show business, has said the film industry as currently constituted is kaput, even if Tinseltown has been slow to understand what’s happened in recent decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

"Don't worry about this Rwanda issue. It is kaput," he claimed.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2024

Whether her chances are kaput is something Eastside voters get to decide — if she stays in the race.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2023

Now all three of those competitors are kaput, felled by runs on deposits during the biggest banking crisis in a decade and a half.

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2023

“Oh, well, that’s the easy part. Stay away from her: your problem’s kaput.’

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli