blackout

noun

black·​out ˈblak-ˌau̇t 

1

a

: a turning off of the stage lighting to separate scenes in a play or end a play or skit

also : a skit that ends with a blackout

b

: a period of darkness enforced as a precaution against air raids

c

: a period of darkness (as in a city) caused by a failure of electrical power

2

: a transient dulling or loss of vision, consciousness, or memory

an alcoholic blackout

3

a

: a wiping out : obliteration

b

: a blotting out by censorship : suppression

a news blackout

4

: a usually temporary loss of a radio signal

5

: the prohibition or restriction of the telecasting of a sports event

6

: a time during which a special commercial offer (as of tickets) is not valid

—usually used attributively

blackout dates

Synonyms of blackout

• daze
• trance
• faint
• syncope

Examples of blackout in a Sentence

the blackouts of World War II

She keeps flashlights and candles handy in case of a blackout.

He told his doctor he had been experiencing blackouts.

Recent Examples on the Web

That has led to severe blackouts, food shortages and an economic collapse across the island. —Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026

Iranian officials claim that communications blackouts are a national-security necessity, but in practice the Islamic Republic uses them to control its public image and conceal human-rights violations. —Holly Dagres, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026

That has led to severe blackouts, food shortages and an economic collapse across the island. —CBS News, 4 June 2026

The pullback, following similar moves by Royalton and Iberostar, threatens thousands of tourism jobs as blackouts, fuel shortages and plunging visitor numbers push Cuba’s industry to the brink. —Andrea Rodríguez, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for blackout

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

Kids Definition

blackout

noun

black·​out ˈblak-ˌau̇t 

1

: a period when lights are kept off to guard against enemy airplane attack in a war

2

: a period when lights are off as a result of an electrical power failure

3

: a temporary dulling or loss of vision or consciousness

black out

-ˈau̇t

verb

Medical Definition

blackout

1 of 2 noun

black·​out ˈblak-ˌau̇t 

: a transient dulling or loss of vision, consciousness, or memory

an alcoholic blackout

compare grayout, redout

black out

2 of 2 intransitive verb

(ˈ)blak-ˈau̇t 

: to undergo a temporary loss of vision, consciousness, or memory (as from temporary impairment of cerebral circulation, retinal anoxia, a traumatic emotional blow, or an alcoholic binge) compare gray out, red out

transitive verb

: to cause to black out