noun
Uncommon
outage
OW-tihj
Outage (noun) means a period during which a service, especially electricity, is not working. Example: “The storm caused a power outage across half the city.”
noun
1
A period during which a service, especially electricity, is not working.
"The storm caused a power outage across half the city."
"Engineers scheduled a brief outage overnight for maintenance."
How to use outage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA break in service — most often power, internet, or a similar utility.
Common pairings
power outage
internet outage
scheduled outage
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Word forms
- Plural
- outages
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The storm caused a power _____ across half the city.
Etymology
Formed from "out" plus the suffix "-age," on the model of "shortage."
Rhymes for outage
See all rhymes for outage →Frequently asked questions
What does “outage” mean?
The word “outage” means a period during which a service, especially electricity, is not working. In plain terms, a break in service — most often power, internet, or a similar utility.
How do you pronounce “outage”?
“Outage” is pronounced OW-tihj (/ˈaʊ.tɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “outage” in a sentence?
Here is “outage” used in a sentence: “The storm caused a power outage across half the city.”
What part of speech is “outage”?
“Outage” is a noun.
Is “outage” a common word?
“Outage” is an uncommon word in modern English.
