blowout
Americannoun
-
blowouts
plural
-
a sudden bursting or rupture of an automobile tire.
-
a sudden or violent escape of air, steam, or the like.
-
a hollow formed in a region of shifting sands or light soil by the action of the wind.
-
an uncontrollable escape of oil, gas, or water from a well.
-
a service at a hair salon in which the hair is blow-dried and styled.
-
Aeronautics. flame-out.
-
Slang. a lavish party or entertainment.
-
Slang. a decisive victory or defeat.
-
blowout sale. Slang. a sale featuring very large discounts.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing blowout
Super Bowl Blowout: Epic Vocab for the Big Game
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
American Football, 4th Quarter
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
American Football, 3rd Quarter
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The biotech company has struggled to find its next major product after the blowout success of its COVID-19 vaccine.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Optical stocks have recaptured investors’ interest lately, but Lumentum’s blowout earnings report is being met with a ho-hum response.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
He saw me pull out of my driveway once and flagged me down to tell me I was headed for a blowout soon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Stellar earnings now barely move shares, because the rally already priced in the blowout.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“The blowout seems about a third up the casement.”
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
This past summer Wi Spa also opened a salon for blowouts, called Root Style Bar, adjacent to its women’s dressing room.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
Kershaw might be needed beyond the role he was promised: save the team from using the current major league pitchers in blowouts or extra innings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
On a population-adjusted basis, by my calculation, only FDR bests him—FDR whose four presidential runs were all blowouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 13, 2026
All three of the Lakers’ most recent losses have been blowouts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2025
They had had seven blowouts on the way.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
