shutout

1 of 2

noun

shut·​out ˈshət-ˌau̇t How to pronounce shutout (audio)
1
: a game or contest in which one side fails to score
2
: a preemptive bid in bridge

shut out

2 of 2

verb

shut out; shutting out; shuts out

transitive verb

1
2
: to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game or contest
3
: to forestall the bidding of (bridge opponents) by making a high or preemptive bid

Examples of shutout in a Sentence

Noun They beat us in a 9–0 shutout. Verb local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport
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.
Noun
Oviedo 6, Lyman 1 Buzz: Brody Challis homered for Oviedo, while Henry Alarcon threw 5 shutout innings allowing 2 hits to earn the win. Robert Clark, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2025 Agoura 4, Rio Mesa 3: The Chargers (2-0) got four shutout innings from pitcher Cooper Stutler. Moorpark 1, Culver City 0: Ronan O’Connell threw six shutout innings and Blake Guy got the save in a game that took just one hour, 42 minutes to complete. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron came to Washington this week after Europe and Ukraine were shut out of peace talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025 The visits will be critical to showing whether there is any scope for US-European cooperation on the war — after the continent was shut out of US talks in Saudi Arabia with Russia this week. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shutout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shutout was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shutout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutout. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

shutout

1 of 2 noun
shut·​out ˈshət-ˌau̇t How to pronounce shutout (audio)
: a game in which one side fails to score

shut out

2 of 2 verb
ˌshət-ˈau̇t
1
: to keep something out : exclude
2
: to keep an opponent from scoring in a game
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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