fallout

1 of 2

noun

fall·​out ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t 

1

a

: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere

also : other polluting particles (such as volcanic ash) descending likewise

b

: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere

2

: a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences

have to take a position and accept the political fallout

—Andy Logan

fall out

2 of 2

verb

fell out; fallen out; falling out; falls out

intransitive verb

1

: quarrel

also : to cut off relations over a quarrel

former friends who have fallen out

2

: turn out, happen

expected to be in the States …  , but things fell out otherwise

—Mark Twain

3

a

: to leave one's place in the ranks

b

: to leave a building in order to take one's place in a military formation

Synonyms

Verb

• bicker
• fight
• argue
• spat
• quarrel
• clash

Examples of fallout in a Sentence

Noun

concerned about the possible political fallout from the scandal

Verb

club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars

I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The fallout from that trade, combined with injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, derailed the Mavericks’ playoff hopes and led to widespread criticism of the team’s management. —Evan Dammarell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Khloé dealt with the fallout in front of the cameras. —Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025

Verb

If stores fall out of compliance, SNAP enrollees who live nearby would no longer be able to use their benefits there, Babey said. —Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Taken together — lax credit standards resurfacing, leveraged firms falling out of favor, speculative flows unmoored from fundamentals — the echoes with past turning points are fanning a spirit of discipline among a cohort of big money managers. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fallout

• fallout shelter

Rhymes for fallout

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

Kids Definition

fallout

1 of 2 noun

fall·​out ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t 

: the often radioactive particles that are stirred up by or result from a nuclear explosion and descend through the atmosphere

fall out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)fȯ-ˈlau̇t

1

: to have a quarrel

2

: happen sense 1

Medical Definition

fallout

noun

fall·​out ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t 

1

: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere

also : other polluting particles (as volcanic ash) descending likewise

2

: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere