dropout

noun drop·out \ ˈdräp-ˌau̇t \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of dropout

1 a : one who drops out of school

b : one who drops out of conventional society

c : one who abandons an attempt, activity, or chosen path

a corporate dropout

2 : a momentary defect on a magnetic tape or disk caused by a temporary loss of signal

See dropout defined for English-language learners

See dropout defined for kids

Examples of dropout in a Sentence

The program is designed for dropouts who wish to get high school equivalency certificates.

Recent Examples of dropout from the Web

Rouhanifard is also credited with improving the district’s graduation rate from 49 percent to 70 percent and cutting the dropout rate from 21 percent to 12 percent in five years.

— melanie burney, Philly.com, "Camden school superintendent says he's stepping down from 'the best job I've ever had'," 11 Apr. 2018
And which kids -- the little ones or the college dropout?

— hank stuever, chicagotribune.com, "'Lost in Space' is adrift in that vast area between shows for kids and shows for grown-ups," 11 Apr. 2018
Among the questions that Eggers doesn’t ask is how and why Mokhtar, whose family is well-to-do and of fairly elite status in Yemen, is reduced, for a long while, to being a college dropout and a nobody in the United States.

— siddhartha deb, The New Republic, "What Dave Eggers misses in his story of a Yemeni-American man’s rise," 4 Apr. 2018
Proceeds support CIS-Bay Area's dropout prevention program.

— Houston Chronicle, "Calendar: What's Pi Day?," 11 Mar. 2018
The contract calls for a 20 percent dropout rate in the Highlands program within five years, compared to SAISD’s 39 percent for over-age students.

— alia malik, San Antonio Express-News, "SAISD board okays another charter partnership," 27 Mar. 2018
Sudha Ram believes the information could be used to try to help lower dropout rates.

— lauren castle, azcentral, "How a UA professor uses student-ID card data to help predict dropouts," 26 Mar. 2018
Theranos rose quickly from being a college dropout's idea to revolutionize the blood analysis industry to a hot tech bet that accrued $700 million in funding and many famous names for its board.

— marco della cava, USA TODAY, "Behind Theranos' rise and dramatic fall: the powerful backers in money, tech and politics," 15 Mar. 2018
The group looked at the school’s record on dropout prevention, financial management, entrepreneurship and personal development.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Four universities in Florida make list of the best historically black schools in U.S. | Miami Herald," 21 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dropout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dropout

1930

drop out

verb \ ˌdräp-ˈau̇t \

Definition of drop out

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from participation or membership : quit; especially : to withdraw from conventional society

See drop out defined for kids

First Known Use of drop out

1875

DROPOUT Defined for English Language Learners

dropout

noun

Definition of dropout for English Language Learners

: a person who stops going to a school, college, etc., before finishing : a person who drops out of school
: a person who stops being involved in society because he or she does not believe in its rules, customs, and values

DROPOUT Defined for Kids

dropout

noun drop·out \ ˈdräp-ˌau̇t \

Definition of dropout for Students

: a person who quits school or a training program

Learn More about dropout

See words that rhyme with dropout Nglish: Translation of dropout for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dropout for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dropout? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

dropout

Definition of dropout

Examples of dropout in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dropout from the Web

First Known Use of dropout

drop out

Definition of drop out

First Known Use of drop out

DROPOUT Defined for English Language Learners

dropout

Definition of dropout for English Language Learners

DROPOUT Defined for Kids

dropout

Definition of dropout for Students

Learn More about dropout

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

headlong

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix'?

'Altho' vs. 'Although'

A Brief History of 'Potshot'

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Name That Thing

Bee Cubed

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

dropout

Definition of dropout

Examples of dropout in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dropout from the Web

First Known Use of dropout

drop out

Definition of drop out

First Known Use of drop out

DROPOUT Defined for English Language Learners

dropout

Definition of dropout for English Language Learners

DROPOUT Defined for Kids

dropout

Definition of dropout for Students

Learn More about dropout

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes