bailout

1 of 2

noun

bail·​out ˈbāl-ˌau̇t 

: a rescue from financial distress

bail out

2 of 2

verb

bailed out; bailing out; bails out

intransitive verb

1

: to parachute from an aircraft

2

: to abandon a harmful or difficult situation

also : leave, depart

Synonyms of bailout

Verb

• exit
• move
• depart
• get
• go
• peel off
• walk out
• pull out
• get off
• cut out
• run along
• dig out
• sally (forth)
• go off
• push off
• evacuate
• escape
• clear out
• bail
• start
• pike (out or off)
• clear off

Examples of bailout in a Sentence

Noun

government bailouts of large corporations

Verb

if the meeting seems like it will never end, find an excuse to bail out

the government bailed out the savings and loan industry

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As was clear at the outset and became clearer in retrospect, this was essentially a bailout of one Musk company by another, with Tesla’s shareholders hung out to dry by forcing them to rescue the failing SolarCity. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

But that boom eventually faded, overwhelmed by larger forces including the rise of the regulatory state and increasingly generous government bailouts. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

After a few parched years Arizona was bailed out by the federal government, which built a reservoir so the people of the Salt River Valley would never again experience privation. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

His team ultimately bailed out Campbell for his dicey decision on fourth down — with some help from the officiating crew. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1939, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bailout

• about
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout
• dugout

Kids Definition

bail out

verb

1

: to jump out of an airplane with a parachute

2

: to help from a difficult situation

Legal Definition

bailout

noun

bail·​out ˈbāl-ˌau̇t 

: a rescue from financial distress