shut·out
ˈshət-ˌau̇t 
1
: a game or contest in which one side fails to score
2
: a preemptive bid in bridge
shut out; shutting out; shuts out
1
: exclude
2
: to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game or contest
3
: to forestall the bidding of (bridge opponents) by making a high or preemptive bid
Examples of shutout in a Sentence
Noun
They beat us in a 9–0 shutout.
Verb
local residents feel that they have been shut out of the debate for expanding the airport
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Bobrovsky went 33-19-2 this season with five shutouts, a .906 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
That’s the second time this season, and the seventh time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets have been shut out in consecutive games.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutout
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.
Noun
The 34-year-old veteran beat the Padres earlier this month with six shutout innings at Wrigley.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Bobrovsky went 33-19-2 this season with five shutouts, a .906 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
That could include access to billions in federal subsidies to increase rural internet access that SpaceX was shut out of under the Biden administration.
—Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
That’s the second time this season, and the seventh time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets have been shut out in consecutive games.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shutout
Cite this Entry
“Shutout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shutout. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shutout
1 of 2 noun
shut·out
ˈshət-ˌau̇t
: a game in which one side fails to score
shut out
2 of 2 verbˌshət-ˈau̇t
1
: to keep something out : exclude
2
: to keep an opponent from scoring in a game
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share