fallout

noun

fall·​out ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t 

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

Examples of fallout in a Sentence

concerned about the possible political fallout from the scandal

Recent Examples on the Web

Pakistan was left to deal with the fallout from the Afghan civil war that followed, which included accepting nearly four million Afghan refugees. —Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 3 June 2026

Bari Weiss directed the housecleaning at the newsmagazine last week, and Nick Bilton signed the letter telling Scott Pelley he was fired on Tuesday night, but the Paramount CEO owns the decisions and the disconcerting fallout. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

Some fear the war's unpopularity and the economic fallout could harm the GOP's chances at keeping control of Congress after the midterm elections in November. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 3 June 2026

The fallout from the First Liberty scandal reaches Georgia’s Republican runoff for lieutenant governor. —Adam Beam, AJC.com, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fallout

• fallout shelter

Rhymes for fallout

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

Kids Definition

fallout

1 of 2 noun

fall·​out ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t 

: the often radioactive particles that are stirred up by or result from a nuclear explosion and descend through the atmosphere

fall out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)fȯ-ˈlau̇t

1

: to have a quarrel

2

: happen sense 1

Medical Definition

fallout

noun

fall·​out ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t 

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