readout

1 of 2

noun

read·​out ˈrēd-ˌau̇t 

variants or less commonly read-out

plural readouts also read-outs

1

a

: the process of removing information from an automatic device (such as a computer or sensor) and displaying it in an understandable form

b

: the information removed from such a device and displayed or recorded (as by printing device or electronic screen)

… systems are capable of giving a constant readout of speed and distance traveled to a high degree of accuracy.

—Dutton's Navigation & Piloting

c

: an electronic device that presents information in visual form

The second-best thing is the monitor: It produced extremely crisp, sharp images, and an LED readout on the front provides pertinent information such as the current resolution and refresh rate.

—Preston Gralla

2

: a document that summarizes the content of a meeting, telephone call, etc. involving government officials

Many foreign leaders also issue their own readouts, providing their version of the calls, which can sometimes differ in tone and emphasis from the White House summary.

—Vivian Salama

3

: the radio transmission of data or pictures from a space vehicle

read out

2 of 2

verb

read out; reading out; reads out

transitive verb

1

a

: to read aloud

b

: to produce a readout of

2

: to expel from an organization or group

Examples of readout in a Sentence

Noun

The calculator has a digital readout.

He checked the readout on the screen.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Biden and the Qatari leader spoke on Sunday, according to a readout from the White House. —Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025

Or, if your appliance isn't fitted with a readout, place a thermometer inside the fridge. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2025

Verb

Returning producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner this year threw in some old-skool 1990s MTV on-screen factoids for social media (Anya Taylor-Joy has three citizenships?) and pin drops of nominees in the crowd when their names were read out. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2025

There had been a betting pool on the election, and as one editor read out the names of the winners, there was laughter and cheering. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

readout

noun

read·​out ˈrēd-ˌau̇t 

: an electronic device that displays information (as data from a calculator)

also : the information displayed