outage

noun

out·​age ˈau̇-tij How to pronounce outage (audio)
1
: a quantity or bulk of something lost in transportation or storage
2
a
: a failure or interruption in use or functioning
b
: a period of interruption especially of electric current

Examples of outage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Monday’s outage briefly blocked some people from scheduling doctor’s appointments and accessing banking services. Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025 Those with Eight Sleep smart bed tech found their heated protectors weren't able to change temperature due to the outage. PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025 The outage was connected to a misfiring of its domain name system (DNS). Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025 John Kell Amazon Web Services stung by massive outage. John Kell, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outage

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outage was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outage. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on outage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!