# blackout

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈblæk.aʊt/ · frequency rank #13,287

## Definitions
1. A temporary loss of consciousness.
2. A temporary loss of memory.
3. A large-scale power failure, and resulting loss of electricity to consumers.
4. An instance of censorship, especially a temporary one.
5. An intentional outage of a website or other online service, typically as a form of protest.
6. The mandatory blocking of all light emanating from buildings, as well as outdoor and street lighting as a measure against aerial bombing or naval attack, as imposed during, e.g., World War II.
7. The blocking out of as much light as possible.
8. A mass murder committed, usually in an urban area, to eliminate potential witnesses of a previous crime.

## Etymology
Deverbal from black out.

## Easily confused with
- **blackouts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blackout-vs-blackouts)
- **blackest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blackest-vs-blackout)

## Common misspellings (12)
`balckout`, `bblackout`, `blacckout`, `blackkout`, `blackotu`, `blackoutt`, `blackuot`, `blacokut`, `blakcout`, `blcakout`, `bllackout`, `lbackout`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/blackout