shutout

noun

shut·​out ˈshət-ˌau̇t 

1

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

2

: a preemptive bid in bridge

Examples of shutout in a Sentence

They beat us in a 9–0 shutout.

Recent Examples on the Web

The shutout improved the Saints to 34-28 in the regular season as the team sits 3 1/2 games off the International League lead, while the Indians fell to 25-38. —Staff Report, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026

The Swiss went through pool play with three straight shutouts and then held Ukraine without a goal for 120 minutes in the Round of 16. —Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

The Saxons came into the regional final having pitched four shutouts in their previous six games. —Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

The Highlanders scored in the seventh to avoid being shutout for the first time this season. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, 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