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

Such a move, opponents fear, could open the legal floodgates with sharp financial consequences. — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

The floodgates have been opened, and the socialist-communist turnover of the American government has begun. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026

That vision confirmed that 1969 was feasible, which opened the funding floodgates and kicked off the planning process, and the rest is history. — Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026

In Laguna Beach, businesses in flood-prone areas such as downtown use floodgates in front of their doors during high tides and storms to keep water out. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 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