blowout

American  

[bloh-aut] / ˈbloʊˌaʊt /

noun

• blowouts
  plural

1. a sudden bursting or rupture of an automobile tire.

2. a sudden or violent escape of air, steam, or the like.

3. a hollow formed in a region of shifting sands or light soil by the action of the wind.

4. an uncontrollable escape of oil, gas, or water from a well.

5. a service at a hair salon in which the hair is blow-dried and styled.

6. Aeronautics. flame-out.

7. Slang. a lavish party or entertainment.

8. Slang. a decisive victory or defeat.

9. blowout sale. Slang. a sale featuring very large discounts.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• blowouts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of blowout

First recorded in 1815–25; noun use of verb phrase blow out

Explanation

When something stops working or breaks down, you can call it a blowout. The blowout of a city's electrical system can be a particularly big problem. A blowout most often involves air or gas pressure — a blowout when you're driving on the highway is a popped tire. You can also use the word to mean a really easy victory in sports, like your favorite football team's blowout victory over its rival. Yet another meaning of blowout is a fabulous party: "Let's have a blowout to celebrate your twenty-first birthday!" The original, colloquial American meaning of blowout was "outburst," or what might today be called a "blow up."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blowout blowouts

“We’re into the realm where earnings durability is driving shares higher, rather than any single set of blowout results.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

His team plays host to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and oddsmakers see a blowout in the making.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

Of course, that’s good news for chip giant Nvidia, which is still riding high from a blowout quarter last month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

The server maker reported what analysts said was a blowout quarter, as revenue for its AI server business doubled relative to a year before.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

When Dad refused to reconsider, he and Henry had a huge blowout.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

The group stage would be a series of blowouts, the sharks would devour the minnows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

That meant that the run of blowouts immediately ended, replaced by something else: some of the most down-to-the-wire basketball the playoffs have ever seen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

That adds up to a margin of 119 points over just three games, the largest trifecta of blowouts ever recorded in the postseason.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

What might matter is that while UConn and South Carolina, Texas and LSU delivered their best spirit- and soul- and confidence-crushing blowouts, the Lancers and the Cowgirls left Pauley Pavilion feeling good about themselves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026

This exchange was as painful as watching the Celtics lose in blowouts to the Cavs during playoffs.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Related Words

• eruption
• rupture