floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt 

1

: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice

2

: something serving to restrain an outburst

opened the floodgates of criticism

Examples of floodgate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But 3 billion years ago, the nitrogen floodgates opened when nitrogenase evolved in early prokaryotes. —Quanta Magazine, 29 May 2026

That goal seemed to open the floodgates as Hartford, which hadn’t scored– and also hadn’t given up a goal– in each of its first two games, went on to score six times in the second half. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026

Howell’s hit opened the floodgates for the Blue Devils. —Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026

Villa looked to be struggling to make inroads against their German opponents right up until the 41st minute, when Youri Tielemans emphatically opened the floodgates, drifting into space from a corner kick and before superbly volleying home from Morgan Rogers’ floated cross. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flodgate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for floodgate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt 

: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice

Legal Definition

floodgate

noun

flood·​gate

: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)

—usually used in pl.

a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims