blackout — a failure of electrical power supply
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a failure of electrical power supply
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈblækˌaʊt/
Example Sentences
- During the final exam, I had a complete mental blackout and couldn't remember anything I studied.
- The concert was cancelled due to a massive blackout in the entertainment district.
- After drinking too much coffee, he experienced a caffeine-induced blackout during the meeting.
blackout
NOUN[/ˈblækˌaʊt/]
a failure of electrical power supply
A total blackout descends upon the city, turning off all the lights.
One explosion knocked the power out — and the entire district went black. (blackout = BLACK + OUT → lights go OUT and everything turns BLACK)
"A blackout leaves you locked out — no power, no signal, nothing but doubt."
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Blackout emerged as a compound noun in the 1940s from the phrasal verb 'black out,' originating from the practice of extinguishing all lights during wartime air raids to avoid detection by enemy aircraft. The term became standardized during World War II and subsequently broadened to describe any sudden loss of light, consciousness, or electrical power.
Breakdown
black (dark, absence of light) + out (away, off) = to extinguish lights or block light emission. The compound functions as a noun derived from the verb phrase 'to black out.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“During the final exam, I had a complete mental blackout and couldn't remember anything I studied.”
“The concert was cancelled due to a massive blackout in the entertainment district.”
“After drinking too much coffee, he experienced a caffeine-induced blackout during the meeting.”
“The government imposed a complete information blackout regarding the investigation.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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