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noun Uncommon

breakout

Breakout (noun) means an escape, especially from prison. Example: “Guards were alerted the moment the breakout was discovered.”

noun
1
An escape, especially from prison.
"Guards were alerted the moment the breakout was discovered."
2
A sudden outbreak, such as of a rash or disease.
"She had a breakout of hives after eating shellfish."
adj
1
Describing a sudden and unexpected rise to popularity or success.
"The film was her breakout role."

How to use breakout

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn escape, a sudden skin flare-up, or a surprise hit/success — context tells them apart.

Common pairings
prison breakout breakout role breakout star

Word forms

breakouts plural

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Guards were alerted the moment the _____ was discovered.

Etymology

From the phrasal verb break out; the video-game genre sense comes from the 1976 Atari game Breakout.

· First attested 1976

Class of 1976 breakout joined the language around 1976.
See the full Class of 1976 →
jailbreak prison break

Related words

Rhymes for breakout

See all rhymes for breakout →

Frequently asked questions

What does “breakout” mean?

The word “breakout” means an escape, especially from prison. In plain terms, an escape, a sudden skin flare-up, or a surprise hit/success — context tells them apart.

How do you use “breakout” in a sentence?

Here is “breakout” used in a sentence: “Guards were alerted the moment the breakout was discovered.”

What is another word for “breakout”?

Words with a similar meaning to “breakout” include jailbreak and prison break.

What part of speech is “breakout”?

Depending on how it is used, “breakout” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “breakout” come from?

The word “breakout” dates back to around 1976. From the phrasal verb break out; the video-game genre sense comes from the 1976 Atari game Breakout.

Is “breakout” a common word?

“Breakout” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “breakout” have?

“Breakout” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an escape, especially from prison.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial