Fallout

/ˈfɔːlaʊt/ · noun

Meaning

The event of small airborne particles falling to the ground in significant quantities as a result of major industrial activity, volcano eruption, sandstorm, nuclear explosion, etc..

Definitions by Sense

1. The event of small airborne particles falling to the ground in significant quantities as a result of major industrial activity, volcano eruption, sandstorm, nuclear explosion, etc.
2. The particles themselves.
3. A negative side effect; an undesirable or unexpected consequence.
4. (rare) A declined offer in a sales transaction when acceptance was presumed.
5. (rare) The person who declines such an offer.
6. (radio, television, broadcasting) An impromptu guest used to fill in for another guest spot who is a no-show or who has cancelled last minute.

Example Sentences

It was 5 February 2010 and Safdar had already dealt with the fallout of one explosion that day: an hour before, a motorbike laden with explosives had slammed into a bus carrying Shia Muslims to a religious procession.

On 26 April 1986 the reactor number four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant located in the Soviet Union near Pripyat in Ukraine exploded. Further explosions and the resulting fire sent a plume of highly radioactive fallout into the atmosphere and over an extensive geographical area.

Psychological fallout in the shadow of terrorism

Synonyms for fallout

Antonyms for fallout

Related Words

Word Forms

• fallouts

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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