fall·out
ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere
also
: other polluting particles (such as volcanic ash) descending likewise
b
: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere
2
: a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences
have to take a position and accept the political fallout—
Andy Logan
Andy Logan
fell out; fallen out; falling out; falls out
1
: quarrel
also
: to cut off relations over a quarrel
former friends who have fallen out
3
a
: to leave one's place in the ranks
b
: to leave a building in order to take one's place in a military formation
Synonyms
Examples of fallout in a Sentence
Noun
concerned about the possible political fallout from the scandal
Verb
club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars
I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise.
Recent Examples on the WebAlicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 7 May 2024
The fallout in Missouri from the decision may be swift.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2024
Furthermore, Schulman said, the medium-term fallout from the massive antiwar demonstrations in the Vietnam era were not at all what protesters sought.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2024
Other executives, including the head of the 737 Max program, and board members are also leaving the company amid the fallout.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 2 May 2024
The fuselage supplier behind the door plug blowout that plunged Boeing into months of chaos and slowdowns is, like Boeing, struggling to deal with the fallout from the incident.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 7 May 2024
The doc will focus on the fallout between Swift and Braun after the music mogul purchased the rights to Swift’s first six albums in a $300 million deal in June 2019.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 May 2024
Republicans pointed to the lack of data as the fallout of the Democrats’ firm grip on power in Sacramento, with some suggesting that the spending has gone unchecked because of one-party rule.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Some outside political experts predicted that any political fallout from the trial may be blunted unless Trump ends up behind bars -- an unlikely scenario for a first-time offender in a case such as the one in New York.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 6 May 2024
Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Such agreements had mostly fallen out of favor after the Cold War.
—Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
During our rehearsal, the actor that was supposed to play that role fell out.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Since his head was cut off, the sun or moon just falls out the hole where his neck used to be.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Humphries tossed Kim into the ocean and her earring fell out.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
But the moon's position changes in orbit while the planet turns as the day goes on, and their calibration with the sun eventually falls out of alignment.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
The magazine fell out, and Brad Duncan reached for a spare magazine in his pocket to reload, but Scott E. Duncan held his arm down.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Proposals to reduce the cost of big federal benefit programs, which were a GOP hallmark pre-Trump, have fallen out of favor.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
But on the whole, the financial fallout is far less severe, the research finds.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 7 May 2024
The fallout in Missouri from the decision may be swift.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2024
Furthermore, Schulman said, the medium-term fallout from the massive antiwar demonstrations in the Vietnam era were not at all what protesters sought.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2024
Other executives, including the head of the 737 Max program, and board members are also leaving the company amid the fallout.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 2 May 2024
The fuselage supplier behind the door plug blowout that plunged Boeing into months of chaos and slowdowns is, like Boeing, struggling to deal with the fallout from the incident.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 7 May 2024
The doc will focus on the fallout between Swift and Braun after the music mogul purchased the rights to Swift’s first six albums in a $300 million deal in June 2019.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 May 2024
Republicans pointed to the lack of data as the fallout of the Democrats’ firm grip on power in Sacramento, with some suggesting that the spending has gone unchecked because of one-party rule.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Some outside political experts predicted that any political fallout from the trial may be blunted unless Trump ends up behind bars -- an unlikely scenario for a first-time offender in a case such as the one in New York.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 6 May 2024
Verb
Usually, one or two of the little guys would fall out.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Such agreements had mostly fallen out of favor after the Cold War.
—Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
During our rehearsal, the actor that was supposed to play that role fell out.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Since his head was cut off, the sun or moon just falls out the hole where his neck used to be.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Humphries tossed Kim into the ocean and her earring fell out.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
But the moon's position changes in orbit while the planet turns as the day goes on, and their calibration with the sun eventually falls out of alignment.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
The magazine fell out, and Brad Duncan reached for a spare magazine in his pocket to reload, but Scott E. Duncan held his arm down.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Proposals to reduce the cost of big federal benefit programs, which were a GOP hallmark pre-Trump, have fallen out of favor.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fallout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fallout
Cite this Entry
“Fallout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fallout. Accessed 12 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fallout
1 of 2 noun
fall·out
ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t
: the often radioactive particles that are stirred up by or result from a nuclear explosion and descend through the atmosphere
fall out
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)fȯ-ˈlau̇t
1
: to have a quarrel
2
Medical Definition
fallout
noun
fall·out
ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t
1
: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere
also
: other polluting particles (as volcanic ash) descending likewise
2
: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere
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