sellout

1 of 2

noun

sell·​out ˈsel-ˌau̇t 

1

: the act or an instance of selling out

2

: something sold out

especially : something (such as a concert or contest) for which all tickets are sold

3

: one who sells out

sell out

2 of 2

verb

sold out; selling out; sells out

transitive verb

1

: to sell the goods of (a debtor) in order to satisfy creditors

2

: to sell security or commodity holdings of usually to satisfy an uncovered margin

3

a

: to sell all the available tickets for

sold out the concert

b

: to sell all of

the merchandise was quickly sold out

intransitive verb

1

: to dispose of one's goods by sale

especially : to sell one's business

2

: to betray one's cause or associates especially for personal gain

3

: to be or achieve a sellout

Synonyms

Noun

• backstabbing
• betrayal
• business
• disloyalty
• double cross
• faithlessness
• falseness
• falsity
• infidelity
• perfidy
• treachery
• treason
• two-timing
• unfaithfulness

Examples of sellout in a Sentence

Noun

The concert was a sellout.

The union sees the deal as a sellout.

Angry fans called him a sellout when he started appearing in television commercials.

Verb

the band sold out its faithful followers, abandoning its edgy style for a more commercial sound

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On Saturday — exactly three years since that day filled with tears of joy — Cruz will make his Nationals Park debut before a sellout crowd, not for the Nationals, but for the wildly popular barnstorming Savannah Bananas and their zany brand of baseball. —Scott Allen, Washington Post, 12 July 2024

Other stops on the Soccer Champions Tour — the name of the European teams’ 2024 visit to America — were sellouts, and although Baltimore’s was not, the crowd was larger than when English Premier League sides Arsenal and Everton faced off in July 2022 in front of 39,245. —Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 7 Aug. 2024

Verb

For example, the Newport Jazz Festival, which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, easily sold out all three days. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Sep. 2024

To get yours before they’re sold out, check out the collection here. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1796, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

sellout

1 of 2 noun

sell·​out ˈsel-ˌau̇t 

1

: the act or an instance of selling out

2

: a show, contest, or exhibition for which all seats are sold

sell out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)sel-ˈau̇t

: to dispose of all of one's goods by sale