fallout

1 of 2

noun

fall·​out ˈfȯl-ˌau̇t 

1

a

: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere

also : other polluting particles (such as volcanic ash) descending likewise

b

: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere

2

: a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences

have to take a position and accept the political fallout

—Andy Logan

fall out

2 of 2

verb

fell out; fallen out; falling out; falls out

intransitive verb

1

: quarrel

also : to cut off relations over a quarrel

former friends who have fallen out

2

: turn out, happen

expected to be in the States …  , but things fell out otherwise

—Mark Twain

3

a

: to leave one's place in the ranks

b

: to leave a building in order to take one's place in a military formation

Synonyms

Verb

• altercate
• argue
• argufy
• bicker
• brabble
• brawl
• controvert
• dispute
• fight
• hassle
• jar
• quarrel
• quibble
• row
• scrap
• spat
• squabble
• tiff
• wrangle

Examples of fallout in a Sentence

Noun

concerned about the possible political fallout from the scandal

Verb

club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars

I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Far-right extremist groups have been cowed in the last four years by the fallout and prosecutions from the Jan. 6 insurrection, said Katherine Keneally, head of threat analysis and prevention at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. —Will Carless, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

Mozeliak and Arenado have squashed any lingering frustration from the Astros fallout, multiple team sources say, and Arenado has pivoted to focusing on bettering his play after two consecutive years of offensive decline. —Katie Woo, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

Verb

But Long and Hood fell out in the 1990s after Hood started selling her work directly to collectors, cutting out Long—a big-time art world sin. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025

Telex fell out of favor by the 1970s as fax machines rose in popularity, followed by early computer email systems. —Scott Nover, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fallout

• fallout shelter

Rhymes for fallout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

fallout

1 of 2 noun

fall·​out ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t 

: the often radioactive particles that are stirred up by or result from a nuclear explosion and descend through the atmosphere

fall out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)fȯ-ˈlau̇t

1

: to have a quarrel

2

: happen sense 1

Medical Definition

fallout

noun

fall·​out ˈfȯ-ˌlau̇t 

1

: the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere

also : other polluting particles (as volcanic ash) descending likewise

2

: descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere