fallout — English Dictionary

Noun

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.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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.

2. The particles themselves.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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.

3. A negative side effect; an undesirable or unexpected consequence.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   blowbackrepercussions

   Examples

   Psychological fallout in the shadow of terrorism

4. A declined offer in a sales transaction when acceptance was presumed.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Rare
   • Uncountable

5. The person who declines such an offer.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Rare
   • Uncountable

6. An impromptu guest used to fill in for another guest spot who is a no-show or who has cancelled last minute.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after a nuclear explosion

   Synonyms

   radioactive dust

   Broader terms

   dust

2. any adverse and unwanted secondary effect

   Synonyms

   side effect

   Broader terms

   consequenceeffectoutcomeresulteventissueupshot

   Examples

   a strategy to contain the fallout from the accounting scandal