floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt 

1

: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice

2

: something serving to restrain an outburst

opened the floodgates of criticism

Examples of floodgate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The recent struggles have brought trade rumors surrounding star outfielder Jarren Duran and if Boston decides to move off him, the trade floodgates will more than likely open. —Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025

But the floodgates were expected to reopen in 2025, with Trump returning to the White House and Wall Street expecting a roaring stock market and a more business-friendly climate overall. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 16 May 2025

By 2010, the confessional floodgates were permanently open. —Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025

The plan includes 124 projects designed to dredge sand, rebuild degraded marshes, and add levees, floodgates and storm surge barriers. —Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flodgate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for floodgate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt 

: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice

Legal Definition

floodgate

noun

flood·​gate

: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)

—usually used in pl.

a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims