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• washed-out
  washed-out

  adjective

  faded, especially from washing.
• washed out
  washed out

  adjective

  faded or colourless

washed-out

American  

[wosht-out, wawsht-] / ˈwɒʃtˈaʊt, ˈwɔʃt- /

adjective

1. faded, especially from washing.

2. Informal.

   1. weary; exhausted.

   2. tired-looking; wan.

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washed out British  

adjective

1. faded or colourless

2. exhausted, esp when being pale in appearance

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washed out Idioms  

1. Faded in color; also, lacking animation. For example, This carpet is all washed out from the sun, or He looks all washed out. [Late 1700s; early 1800s] Also see wash out, def. 3.

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Etymology

Origin of washed-out

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Last March marked the first time in three years that the event could be held outdoors after rain washed out celebrations in 2023 and 2024.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Sri Lanka are bottom of Super Eights Group 2 on zero points, below New Zealand and Pakistan on one point each after their match on Saturday was washed out.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Let’s hope they get washed out in the semifinals next week.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

St. Louis-based apparel and gift shop STL-Style started 2025 on a difficult footing after a weak holiday season last year, when bad weather washed out some key shopping days.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

She bathed her face and washed out the sink and put the mustard back on the shelf.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck