noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

dropout

Dropout (noun) means a person who leaves school or a course before finishing it. Example: “He was a college dropout who went on to start his own business.”

noun

A person who leaves school or a course before finishing it.

"He was a college dropout who went on to start his own business."

A brief, unwanted loss of signal, audio, or video.

"The call suffered from a dropout right at the crucial moment."

How to use dropout

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who quits an educational course early, or a short break in a signal or recording.

Common pairings

high school dropout signal dropout

Word forms

dropouts plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “dropout” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He was a college _____ who went on to start his own business.

Etymology

Deverbal from drop out.

Rhymes for dropout

out tout bout gout lout pout rout about trout spout clout grout

See all rhymes for dropout →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dropout” mean?

The word “dropout” means a person who leaves school or a course before finishing it. In plain terms, someone who quits an educational course early, or a short break in a signal or recording.

How do you use “dropout” in a sentence?

Here is “dropout” used in a sentence: “He was a college dropout who went on to start his own business.”

What part of speech is “dropout”?

“Dropout” is a noun.

How many meanings does “dropout” have?

“Dropout” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who leaves school or a course before finishing it.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include dropout:

B2 vocabulary words