bailout

American

[beyl-out] / ˈbeɪlˌaʊt /

Or bail-out

noun

the act of parachuting from an aircraft, especially to escape a crash, fire, etc.
an instance of coming to the rescue, especially financially.

a government bailout of a large company.
an alternative, additional choice, or the like.

If the highway is jammed, you have two side roads as bailouts.

adjective

of, relating to, or consisting of means for relieving an emergency situation.

bailout measures for hard-pressed smallbusinesses.

bailout British

/ ˈbeɪlaʊt /

noun

an act of bailing out, usually by the government, of a failing institution or business

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bailout

First recorded in 1950–55; noun and adjective use of the verb phrase bail out

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s also the rest of the federal budget, on whom those programs will eventually depend for any bailout.

From MarketWatch

He also appeared to discuss a tax on bankers' bonuses and confirm an imminent bailout package for the Euro on the day before it was announced in 2010.

From BBC

While some have walked back explicit calls for bailouts, those arguments are likely to resurface if financing conditions tighten or fiscal stimulus fades.

From Barron's

This marks a radical departure from traditional U.S. policy, under which government purchases of equity were temporary and reserved for bailouts during systemic crises.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many farmers already rely on government bailouts to stay afloat.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023