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

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and automaker bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis are other examples of similar deals. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

Advertisement In agribusiness, Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill, Caterpillar, and John Deere have collectively received nearly $25 billion in federal subsidies, loans, guarantees, and bailouts since 2000. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 29 Aug. 2025

Verb

During crises, central banks can provide liquidity, bail out banks, or adjust interest rates to stabilize economies. —Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Austerity measures demanded by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to bail out Greece angered everyday citizens. —Luciana Lopez, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 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