fallout

noun fall·out \ ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of fallout

1 a : the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere; also : other polluting particles (such as volcanic ash) descending likewise

b : descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere

2 : a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences

have to take a position and accept the political fallout
—Andy Logan

See fallout defined for English-language learners

See fallout defined for kids

Examples of fallout in a Sentence

concerned about the possible political fallout from the scandal

Recent Examples of fallout from the Web

Recent declassified information divulged that French nuclear testing in Polynesia caused significant radioactive fallout in the region, which was not publicly disclosed for almost four decades.

— lovely umayam, The New Republic, "The Nuclear Industry’s Winners and Losers," 31 May 2018
Amid the fallout over the $1.2 million payments to President Trump’s personal attorney, Novartis is trying to move quickly to contain the damage.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Novartis outlines more steps to contain fallout from payments to Trump’s lawyers," 16 May 2018
The mayor also named Lightfoot co-chair of a police reform panel to form recommendations amid the fallout from the Laquan McDonald police shooting case.

— john byrne, chicagotribune.com, "Lightfoot bought campaign website names weeks after she told Emanuel she wasn't running," 11 May 2018
In 1986, an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caused radioactive fallout to begin spewing into the atmosphere.

— azcentral, "AZ Memo: Arizona #RedForEd teachers walkout today - all you need to know; movie sequels, reboots getting ridiculous," 26 Apr. 2018
In 1986, an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caused radioactive fallout to begin spewing into the atmosphere.

— BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 26 Apr. 2018
Winds shear the bomb's mushroom cloud into a plume of radioactive fallout that drifts eastward into the Maryland suburbs.

— m. mitchell waldrop, Science | AAAS, "What if a nuke goes off in Washington, D.C.? Simulations of artificial societies help planners cope with the unthinkable," 12 Apr. 2018
Saruhashi also developed a technique to trace how radioactive fallout travels across oceans.

— brett molina, USA TODAY, "Google honors geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi," 22 Mar. 2018
By measuring carbon dioxide in seawater, Saruhashi showed the dangers of radioactive fallout for the first time.

— morgan enos, Billboard, "Google Doodle Celebrates 98th Birthday of Pioneering Geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi," 22 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of fallout

1946

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

fall out

verb

Definition of fall out

intransitive verb

1 : quarrel; also : to cut off relations over a quarrel

former friends who have fallen out

2 : turn out, happen

expected to be in the States … , but things fell out otherwise
—Mark Twain

3 a : to leave one's place in the ranks

b : to leave a building in order to take one's place in a military formation

See fall out defined for kids

Examples of fall out in a Sentence

club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars
I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise.

First Known Use of fall out

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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fall out Synonyms

Phrases

bandy words, butt heads, lock horns, mix it up;

FALLOUT Defined for English Language Learners

fallout

noun

Definition of fallout for English Language Learners

: the radioactive particles that are produced by a nuclear explosion and that fall through the atmosphere
: a bad effect or result of something

FALLOUT Defined for Kids

fallout

noun fall·out \ ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t \

Definition of fallout for Students

1 : the usually radioactive particles falling through the atmosphere as a result of a nuclear explosion

2 : the bad result of something

He suffered the fallout from his poor decision.

Medical Dictionary

fallout

noun fall·out \ ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t \

medical Definition of fallout

1 : the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere; also : other polluting particles (as volcanic ash) descending likewise

2 : descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere