floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism

Examples of floodgate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As far as the floodgates that Welcome Mat opened up as far as human me, girl me, is different now. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2024 The war in Ukraine cannot end on Kyiv’s terms if Russia remains an open floodgate for Chinese supplies, and Europe cannot remain prosperous if China has almost free rein to hollow out Europe’s industrial economy. Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2024 However the floodgates then opened and the second half saw the hosts run away with a victory that should settle the nerves going into the next set of games. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris, a proponent of utopian policies, is being challenged by former President Donald Trump, who promises to close the floodgates on progressive policies. Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for floodgate 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flodgate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodgate was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near floodgate

Cite this Entry

“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice

Legal Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate
: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)
usually used in pl.
a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims

More from Merriam-Webster on floodgate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!