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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• blowouts
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of blowout

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

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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

Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is taking heat on social media after criticizing Green Bay fans for booing during a blowout loss to Atlanta.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

The college rivals turned teammates on the U.S. national team showed off their growing chemistry in Team USA’s blowout victory against Hungary on Thursday in Berlin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Broadcom is likely trading down after its fourth-quarter outlook implied earnings per share that missed Street consensus, especially given Nvidia’s recent blowout quarter, StoneX analyst Cody Acree writes in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

The game was a blowout, but his sense of concentration was still riveted, still totally focused, no time for letup, no time for relaxation.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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

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

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

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

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

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

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Related Words

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