blackout

[blak-out]

noun

1. the extinguishing or concealment of all visible lights in a city, military post, etc., usually as a precaution against air raids.

2. a period during a massive power failure when the lack of electricity for illumination results in utter darkness except from emergency sources, as candles.

3. Theater.

   1. the extinguishing of all stage lights, as in closing a vaudeville skit or separating the scenes of a play.

   2. Also called blackout skit. a skit ending in a blackout.

4. Pathology.

   1. temporary loss of consciousness or vision.

      She suffered a blackout from the blow on the head.

   2. a period of total memory loss, as one induced by an accident or prolonged alcoholic drinking.

      The patient cannot account for the bizarre things he did during his blackout.

5. a brief, passing lapse of memory.

   An actor may have an occasional blackout and forget a line or two.

6. complete stoppage of a communications medium, as by a strike, catastrophe, electrical storm, etc.: a radio blackout.

   a newspaper blackout;

   a radio blackout.

7. a stoppage, suppression, or obliteration.

   a news blackout.

8. a period during which a special sales offer, fare rate, or other bargain is not available.

   The airline's discount on fares does not apply during the Christmas week blackout.

9. Radio and Television.,  a prohibition that is imposed on the broadcasting of an event and has the purpose of encouraging or ensuring ticket sales.

blackout

/ ˈblækaʊt /

noun

1. the extinguishing or hiding of all artificial light, esp in a city visible to an enemy attack from the air

2. a momentary loss of consciousness, vision, or memory

3. a temporary electrical power failure or cut

4. electronics a temporary loss of sensitivity in a valve following a short strong pulse

5. a temporary loss of radio communications between a spacecraft and earth, esp on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere

6. the suspension of radio or television broadcasting, as by a strike or for political reasons

verb

1. (tr) to obliterate or extinguish (lights)

2. (tr) to create a blackout in (a city etc)

3. (intr) to lose vision, consciousness, or memory temporarily

4. (tr, adverb) to stop (news, a television programme) from being released or broadcast

blackout

1. The complete loss of electrical power in a particular area. Blackouts can result from a natural disaster, a manmade catastrophe, or simply from an excess of energy demand over supply. (Compare brownout.)

Rolling blackouts to match supply and demand have become increasingly common in the United States.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackout¹

First recorded in 1910–15; noun use of verb phrase black out

Example Sentences

This will be the fourth consecutive winter of blackouts throughout Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Read more on BBC

Rolling blackouts were frequent, and most Gazans lived on limited hours of electricity each day.

Read more on BBC

El-Fasher came under siege 18 months ago and a communications blackout makes it difficult to confirm information from the city as only those with satellite internet connections are contactable.

Read more on BBC

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity said in a report earlier this month that the April blackout was caused by overvoltage, as the grid struggled to tackle sudden power losses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tuesday’s speech comes not only in the absence of fresh economic data but days before the Fed enters its premeeting blackout period at the end of this week.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• collapse