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
Andy Logan
fell out; fallen out; falling out; falls out
1
: quarrel
also
: to cut off relations over a quarrel
former friends who have fallen out
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
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 WebSelena Kuznikov, Variety, 18 May 2024
And, of course, there’s the reputational and interpersonal fallout from throwing your wife under the bus.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 17 May 2024
The fallout from Harrison Butker’s controversial graduation speech continues to rage on, as nuns from Benedictine College join the list as the latest to condemn his words.
—Danielle Jennings, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
Ascension Michigan's pharmacies are no longer able to fill prescriptions, the health system said Wednesday, as the fallout from the ransomware attack that took down its computer networks continues to cause disruptions into a second week.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2024
The organization wished Voigt and Srivastava well in public Instagram posts, but has not responded to NPR's requests for comment even as the fallout from their resignations has continued.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 May 2024
An even larger force is the fallout from increasingly costly wildfires, hail storms and other disasters.
—Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 11 May 2024
The finger-pointing will probably become even more intense as the homelessness crisis worsens, as voters become more frustrated, and as politicians, including a governor with national ambitions, try to avoid the fallout.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
But people are still dying and the fallout from the virus is playing into attitudes over the divisive state of the country and its politics.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The album is shaping up to be Timberlake’s first real bomb, having just been released in March and — shockingly — already fallen out of the Billboard 200.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 7 May 2024
Oliver points out that this practice has since been found disruptive to bats and has fallen out of favor.
—Corey Buhay, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2024
Rachel asks Teresa, who responds with an anecdote about a conversation Luis and John had prior to their falling out.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
The package was damaged and the letters fell out before they could be delivered.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 6 May 2024
One of Leitch's favorites is a fall out of a glass building in the 1980s classic Sharky's Machine.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 3 May 2024
In a complaint about the hospital to state health regulators, Barrett’s daughter said she had been told hospital administrators initially thought the 72-year-old had fallen out of his bed.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
Items that could fall out of a pocket are not permitted on the ride, with riders passing through a metal detector at the entrance to check.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
Noun
The show kicks off with Alex leaving Dave at the altar, and the group navigating the fallout.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 18 May 2024
And, of course, there’s the reputational and interpersonal fallout from throwing your wife under the bus.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 17 May 2024
The fallout from Harrison Butker’s controversial graduation speech continues to rage on, as nuns from Benedictine College join the list as the latest to condemn his words.
—Danielle Jennings, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024
Ascension Michigan's pharmacies are no longer able to fill prescriptions, the health system said Wednesday, as the fallout from the ransomware attack that took down its computer networks continues to cause disruptions into a second week.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2024
The organization wished Voigt and Srivastava well in public Instagram posts, but has not responded to NPR's requests for comment even as the fallout from their resignations has continued.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 May 2024
An even larger force is the fallout from increasingly costly wildfires, hail storms and other disasters.
—Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 11 May 2024
The finger-pointing will probably become even more intense as the homelessness crisis worsens, as voters become more frustrated, and as politicians, including a governor with national ambitions, try to avoid the fallout.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
But people are still dying and the fallout from the virus is playing into attitudes over the divisive state of the country and its politics.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
Verb
There’s a sequence in Iron Man 3 where Air Force One blows out and a whole bunch of people fall out of the back.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The album is shaping up to be Timberlake’s first real bomb, having just been released in March and — shockingly — already fallen out of the Billboard 200.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 7 May 2024
Oliver points out that this practice has since been found disruptive to bats and has fallen out of favor.
—Corey Buhay, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2024
Rachel asks Teresa, who responds with an anecdote about a conversation Luis and John had prior to their falling out.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
The package was damaged and the letters fell out before they could be delivered.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 6 May 2024
One of Leitch's favorites is a fall out of a glass building in the 1980s classic Sharky's Machine.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 3 May 2024
In a complaint about the hospital to state health regulators, Barrett’s daughter said she had been told hospital administrators initially thought the 72-year-old had fallen out of his bed.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
Items that could fall out of a pocket are not permitted on the ride, with riders passing through a metal detector at the entrance to check.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fallout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fallout
Cite this Entry
“Fallout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fallout. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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