Definition

Noun: 1. A defeat in a game where one side fails to score: A shutout is a game, especially in sports like baseball, hockey, or soccer, in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring any points or goals.

Usage

The word "shutout" is primarily used as a noun in sports contexts to describe a specific type of victory or defeat. It emphasizes the defensive achievement of one team and the complete lack of scoring by the other.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The pitcher celebrated his third consecutive shutout of the season.
  • The final score was 3-0, a complete shutout for the home team.
  • Suffering a shutout in the championship game was a bitter disappointment.

Advanced Usage

• "to pitch a shutout": (Baseball/Softball) This phrase specifically refers to a pitcher (or pitching team) completing a game without allowing the opposing team to score.
  • The rookie amazed everyone by managing to pitch a shutout against the league's best hitters.
• "to be shut out": This is the verbal phrase from which the noun is derived. It means to be prevented from scoring.
  • Our team was shut out in the first half but came back strong after halftime.

Variants and Related Words

• Shut out (phrasal verb): To prevent an opponent from scoring; to exclude someone.
  • The defense shut out their rivals for the entire game.
• Blank (verb, informal synonym in sports): To defeat an opponent without allowing them to score.
  • They blanked their opponents 2-0.

Synonyms

• Clean sheet (common in soccer/football): A game in which a team concedes no goals.
• Whitewash (informal): A decisive victory where the loser fails to score.

Related Phrases

• Complete game shutout: (Baseball) A shutout where a single pitcher pitches the entire game.
• Team shutout: Emphasizes that the defensive achievement was a collective effort.

Noun

1. a defeat in a game where one side fails to score