fallout

Or fall-out

[fawl-out]

noun

1. the settling to the ground of airborne particles ejected into the atmosphere from the earth by explosions, eruptions, forest fires, etc., especially such settling from nuclear explosions radioactive fallout.

2. the particles themselves.

3. an unexpected or incidental effect, outcome, or product.

   the psychological fallout of being obese.

4. effects; results.

   emotional fallout from a divorce.

fallout

/ ˈfɔːlˌaʊt /

noun

1. the descent of solid material in the atmosphere onto the earth, esp of radioactive material following a nuclear explosion

2. any solid particles that so descend

3. informal,  side-effects; secondary consequences

verb

1. informal,  to quarrel or disagree

2. (intr) to happen or occur

3. military to leave a parade or disciplinary formation

1. military the order to leave a parade or disciplinary formation

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallout¹

First recorded in 1945–50; noun use of verb phrase fall out

Example Sentences

But for investors, political fallout is not so easy to eschew.

Read more on MarketWatch

U.S. futures were up while global markets were mixed amid a fallout from trade interruption caused by an outage on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The firm added that it would delay the release of its full-year financial results to focus on dealing with the fallout of the attack.

Read more on BBC

The fallout of the record-long government shutdown that began last month didn’t only hit federal workers.

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The fallout at the BBC was sparked by a leaked memo to the board written by a former external adviser, Michael Prescott.

Read more on BBC