brownout

[broun-out]

noun

1. the elimination of some or reduction of all electric lights of a city, especially as a precaution against attack in time of war.

2. any curtailment of electric power, as by a severe storm.

brownout

/ ˈbraʊnˌaʊt /

noun

1. a dimming or reduction in the use of electric lights in a city, esp to conserve electric power or as a defensive precaution in wartime

2. a temporary reduction in electrical power Compare blackout

3. a temporary slowing down of the workings of the internet caused when too many users attempt to access it at the same time

brownout

1. A situation in which the voltage in a power grid is reduced below its normal level but not entirely eliminated. (Compare blackout.)

This reduced voltage can result in damage to many electronic devices.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brownout¹

1940–45; brown + out, on the model of blackout

Example Sentences

Yukelson also questioned whether the electrical grid can accommodate the additional load, saying that customers are already subjected to blackouts and brownouts during the summer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s helped that Southern California Edison’s lines are mostly underground and that the port, deemed a vital infrastructure, is exempt from brownouts, an outage resulting from a temporary drop in voltage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“If you look at California, it’s got brownouts and blackouts every single day,” he claimed in a campaign video last year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Claim: California’s clean energy policies are causing brownouts and grid issues.

Read more on Seattle Times

Critics say wind farm projects are expensive, damage the environment and make the electrical grid less stable and more prone to brownout and blackouts.

Read more on Washington Times

Related Words

• blackness 
• dark 
• dusk 
• gloom 
• night 
• obscurity 

When To Use

What does brownout mean?

A brownout is like a blackout, just not as bad.Where an electrical blackout means a loss of electricity, a brownout is a reduction in power. In a brownout, electric devices might still work, but be dimmer, slower, or generally less powerful.If someone blacks out drunk, they can't remember what they did. If someone browns out they have some memories, but only hazy or patchy ones.