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

The hippos carve the winding channels of the Delta, breaking through blockages of reeds and water lilies and opening floodgates for the rain that flows down from Angola each year. —Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

The week ahead could be like the floodgates are opening up even more! —Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026

Brownsberger added that the language in Rush’s amendment would have opened up the floodgates for all cities and towns to tax commercial properties beyond the 175% maximum shift allowed under state law to lower residential tax bills. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026

Then, the floodgates opened up. —William Guillory, New York Times, 15 Jan. 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