noun
Uncommon
blackout
BLAK-owt
Blackout (noun) means a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness or memory. Example: “He suffered a blackout after hitting his head.”
noun
1
A sudden, temporary loss of consciousness or memory.
"He suffered a blackout after hitting his head."
2
A large-scale loss of electrical power over an area.
"The whole city went dark during the blackout."
3
A deliberate suppression of information or news.
"The network imposed a media blackout on the negotiations."
How to use blackout
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLosing consciousness, losing power, or deliberately withholding information — all a sudden "going dark".
Common pairings
power blackout
news blackout
suffer a blackout
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like blackout.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- blackouts
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He suffered a _____ after hitting his head.
Etymology
A noun formed from the phrasal verb "black out".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for blackout
See all rhymes for blackout →Frequently asked questions
What does “blackout” mean?
The word “blackout” means a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness or memory. In plain terms, losing consciousness, losing power, or deliberately withholding information — all a sudden "going dark".
How do you pronounce “blackout”?
“Blackout” is pronounced BLAK-owt (/ˈblæk.aʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “blackout” in a sentence?
Here is “blackout” used in a sentence: “He suffered a blackout after hitting his head.”
What part of speech is “blackout”?
“Blackout” is a noun.
Is “blackout” a common word?
“Blackout” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “blackout” have?
“Blackout” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness or memory.
What is the difference between a "blackout" and a "brownout"?
A blackout is a complete, large-scale loss of electrical power over an area, while a brownout is a partial reduction in voltage that dims lights and weakens power rather than cutting it off entirely. Both are power supply problems, but a blackout is total and a brownout is partial.
What is the difference between a "blackout" and fainting?
A blackout refers to a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness or memory, which can include fainting but also covers memory lapses, such as alcohol-related blackouts where a person stays active but forms no memories. Fainting specifically describes losing consciousness and collapsing, whereas a blackout can occur without a physical collapse.
