outage

noun

out·​age ˈau̇-tij How to pronounce outage (audio)
1
: a quantity or bulk of something lost in transportation or storage
2
a
: a failure or interruption in use or functioning
b
: a period of interruption especially of electric current

Examples of outage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Walmart experienced an outage that left thousands of its online customers unable to check out and view items on Thursday afternoon. Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 The outage began past noon Wednesday and left 1.4 million customers without electricity and 328,000 without water. Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025 Hundreds of thousands of users complained about the outage on social media. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 16 Apr. 2025 Stay up-to-date with local forecasts, secure any outdoor belongings and keep informed about outages that may impact your account. Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outage

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outage was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outage. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on outage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!