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

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

The Ponies have 14 shutouts, allowing just eight goals in 20 matches. —Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025

The Dodgers got heroic efforts from a couple unlikely relievers - two shutout innings from Edgardo Henriquez and four from Will Klein, who picked up the win in a career-long outing. —Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

But running back Rico Dowdle is cooking — 551 yards through seven games — and the Panthers’ defense has been truly dominant at times, shutting out the Falcons in Week 3 and shutting down the Jets (admittedly, not hard to do) last Sunday. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025

Gabbie Monagle-Fleming scored twice and Teagan Graham had two assists as Concord-Carlisle (9-1-4) shut out Wayland 3-0 in Dual County League play. —Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025

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