waterloo

noun

wa·​ter·​loo ˌwȯ-tər-ˈlü 

ˌwä-

plural waterloos

often capitalized

: a decisive or final defeat or setback

a political waterloo

Examples of waterloo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The waterloo arrived in 1930, with the Smoot-Hawley tariff. —Jay Cost, National Review, 14 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

Waterloo, Belgium, scene of Napoleon's defeat in 1815

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above

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Geographical Definition

Waterloo

geographical name

Wa·​ter·​loo ˌwȯ-tər-ˈlü 

ˌwä-;

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌlü,

ˈwä-

1

city in northeast central Iowa northwest of Cedar Rapids population 68,406

2

town in central Belgium south of Brussels population 28,898

Note: In June 1815, a battle near Waterloo resulted in the decisive defeat of French Emperor Napoléon I.

3

city in southeastern Ontario, Canada, west of Kitchener population 98,780