washout
Americannoun
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a washing out of earth, gravel, etc., by water, as from an embankment or a roadway by heavy rain or by a flash flood.
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the hole, break, or erosion produced by such a washing out.
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Aeronautics. Also wash-out a warp in an airfoil that gives a decrease in the angle of attack toward the tip.
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Informal. an utter failure.
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Informal. a person who has failed a course of training or study.
air force washouts.
Etymology
Origin of washout
First recorded in 1870–75; noun use of verb phrase wash out
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.
In July, rides were canceled because of washout risks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Each participant completed two separate 28-day diet periods with a 28-day washout period in between.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026
Sri Lanka were left on the brink after being blasted out for 95 against England to lose by 51 runs a day after New Zealand and Pakistan took a point each from a washout.
From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026
Scotland face a washout of a Six Nations campaign after suffering a dispiriting opening loss to Italy in rain-soaked Rome.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026
Little Ann came up out of the washout.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
