washout
Americannoun
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a washing out of earth, gravel, etc., by water, as from an embankment or a roadway by heavy rain or by a flash flood.
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the hole, break, or erosion produced by such a washing out.
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Aeronautics. Also wash-out a warp in an airfoil that gives a decrease in the angle of attack toward the tip.
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Informal. an utter failure.
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Informal. a person who has failed a course of training or study.
air force washouts.
Etymology
Origin of washout
First recorded in 1870–75; noun use of verb phrase wash out
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In July, rides were canceled because of washout risks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
"Hedge funds had spent recent weeks climbing back aboard the technology trade, with positioning rebuilding toward levels seen before the summer washout," said Stephen Innes at Quintex Intel.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
The group said the problem was not forecast accuracy, but how it was displayed, with a brief overnight shower sometimes shown as an all-day washout.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Following a washout period, they consumed a low-carotenoid tomato juice for another four weeks.
From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026
We climbed out of the washout and started down a game trail.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
