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

When the health and safety restrictions were lifted, the spending floodgates opened in a different way. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

That year, Justin Timberlake and Tina Fey won the Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Comedy awards for their SNL appearances, and from there the floodgates opened. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 July 2026

When Tom Kim won for the third time on the PGA Tour in October 2023, capturing the Shriners Children's Open for the second straight year, many fans assumed the floodgates would open for the young phenom. — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026

Have there been any pivotal moments in the past few years that have really opened up the floodgates in terms of productions coming to Oklahoma? — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 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