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

Verb

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

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

Across all demographics, more Americans disapprove than approve of the bailout. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

Paz favored gradual reform, including tax incentives for small businesses and regional fiscal autonomy, while Quiroga proposed sweeping cuts and an IMF bailout. —Reuters 3 Min Ago, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025

Verb

Democrats are using a $20 billion lifeline to Argentina to claim Republicans care more about bailing out foreign governments than helping Americans at home. —David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025

While her friends remain locked up, Jenner is ultimately bailed out by momager Kris Jenner in a car that once again has a KNGKYLIE plate and a glove compartment stocked with Kylie Cosmetics products. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025

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