shutout

1 of 2

noun

shut·​out ˈshət-ˌau̇t 

1

: a game or contest in which one side fails to score

2

: a preemptive bid in bridge

shut out

2 of 2

verb

shut out; shutting out; shuts out

transitive verb

1

: exclude

2

: to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game or contest

3

: to forestall the bidding of (bridge opponents) by making a high or preemptive bid

Synonyms of shutout

Verb

• exclude
• ban
• eliminate
• bar
• freeze out
• rule out
• prevent

Examples of shutout in a Sentence

Noun

They beat us in a 9–0 shutout.

Verb

local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On the mound, the team received back-to-back six shutout innings from starters Noah Schultz on Friday and Sean Burke on Saturday. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

Brendan Beldowicz had 3 hitless shutout innings to get the win in relief. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026

Verb

The governor, Tim Walz, helped slap together a commission to entertain publicly submitted designs, but then the public was shut out and did not have a vote on the matter, an important matter. —Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026

The only other season in which the Giants got shut out more through 32 games was 1976 (eight). —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shutout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

shutout

1 of 2 noun

shut·​out ˈshət-ˌau̇t 

: a game in which one side fails to score

shut out

2 of 2 verb

ˌshət-ˈau̇t

1

: to keep something out : exclude

2

: to keep an opponent from scoring in a game