blowout
Americannoun
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a sudden bursting or rupture of an automobile tire.
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a sudden or violent escape of air, steam, or the like.
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a hollow formed in a region of shifting sands or light soil by the action of the wind.
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an uncontrollable escape of oil, gas, or water from a well.
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a service at a hair salon in which the hair is blow-dried and styled.
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Aeronautics. flame-out.
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Slang. a lavish party or entertainment.
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Slang. a decisive victory or defeat.
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blowout sale. Slang. a sale featuring very large discounts.
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
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American Football, 4th Quarter
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American Football, 3rd Quarter
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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.
Blowout first-quarter earnings on Thursday appeared to wipe away any lingering concerns.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
The Department of Trade and Industry said on Wednesday that it would "continue to oversee the resumption of the Jollibee Burger Blowout Promo", ensuring "fairness and transparency in all promotional undertakings".
From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025
Blowout of Oilers in season opener and competitive play since shows they’re no longer division pushovers and could hamper Kraken playoff hopes.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 2023
The Amherst Fire Department reported 28 requests for ambulance transports during the Blarney Blowout on March 4.
From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2023
It was fortunate for them that the old Blowout was a very heavy sailer; otherwise they could not have obtained the whole of the story, which was long and very interesting and exciting.
From Little By Little or, The Cruise of the Flyaway by Optic, Oliver
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.
