Definition

1. Noun:
   • A temporary loss of memory or consciousness: A state where a person cannot remember events or loses awareness for a short period.
   • A period when all lights must be turned off or hidden: A mandatory darkness, especially as a defensive measure during wartime to make a city invisible from the air.
   • A failure of electrical power: A widespread power outage affecting a general region.
   • A temporary stoppage of broadcasting: A suspension of radio or television transmissions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After the accident, she experienced a brief blackout and couldn't recall the impact.
  • During the war, the city observed a strict blackout every night.
  • The storm caused a major blackout that left thousands of homes without electricity.
  • The network went into a news blackout, refusing to report on the sensitive event.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a blackout": to experience a temporary loss of memory or consciousness.
  • The boxer had a blackout after the powerful punch.
• "to impose a blackout": to officially enforce a period of darkness or a media silence.
  • The government imposed a news blackout during the military operation.

Variants and Related Words

• Black out (verb phrase): To lose consciousness or memory; to cause lights to become invisible.
  • He might black out if he stands up too quickly.
• Brownout (noun): A reduction in electrical power supply, less severe than a full blackout.
  • The city experienced rolling brownouts to conserve energy.

Synonyms

• Power failure/cut/outage: Terms for a loss of electrical power.
• Faint/syncope: Medical terms for a temporary loss of consciousness.
• Amnesia: A medical condition involving memory loss, often more prolonged.
• Darkness/obscuration: The state of having little or no light.
• Embargo/silence: Terms for a suppression of news or communication.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Black out: To lose consciousness; to obscure lights.
  • The pilot began to black out from the high G-forces.
  • We must black out all windows during the drill.

Related Idioms

• A complete/total blackout: Emphasizes the thoroughness of the memory loss, power loss, or media silence.
  • There was a complete media blackout; no information was released.
• News/information blackout: A specific stoppage of news reporting.
  • The details of the negotiation were kept secret under an information blackout.

Noun

1. partial or total loss of memory
   • he has a total blackout for events of the evening
2. a momentary loss of consciousness
3. the failure of electric power for a general region
4. darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft)
5. a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting