: being such completely at all times, in every way, or from every point of view
an out-and-out fraud

Examples of out-and-out in a Sentence

an out-and-out cheater at every game she plays her story is not just an exaggeration, it's an out-and-out lie mounted an out-and-out effort to find the lost child
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.
The same could be said of Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, who operates best when ghosting into space behind the opposition midfield and releasing runners ahead of him rather than an out-and-out forward who can play on the last line. Mark Carey, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 Untold Murders never out-and-out blames football for the murders committed by Hernandez, Brutcher, and Ryng, but the implications are hard to miss. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025 Hard to find, elite out-and-out strikers are expensive commodities. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 The overall vibe is Scandinavian chic, if not out-and-out luxury. Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for out-and-out 

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of out-and-out was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near out-and-out

Cite this Entry

“Out-and-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out-and-out. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

out-and-out

adjective
ˌau̇t-ᵊn-ˈ(d)au̇t
: being exactly what is stated : complete, thoroughgoing
an out-and-out crook

More from Merriam-Webster on out-and-out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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