Definition

Noun: 1. A fall or crash in a sport or activity: Specifically, a spill or accident resulting in a fall, such as from a bicycle, while skiing, or from being capsized on a surfboard. 2. Complete destruction or elimination: An event, or the result of an event, that utterly annihilates or removes something.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to a sporting accident:
  • The surfer had a spectacular wipeout on the giant wave.
  • She took a nasty wipeout on the ski slope but wasn't seriously hurt.
• Referring to total destruction or defeat:
  • The economic crisis caused the wipeout of many small businesses.
  • The election result was a complete wipeout for the ruling party, which lost every seat.

Advanced Usage

• "total wipeout": Used for emphasis to describe absolute and comprehensive destruction or defeat.
  • The hurricane caused a total wipeout of the coastal village.
  • The company faced total wipeout if the product launch failed.

Variants and Related Words

• Wipe out (phrasal verb): To destroy completely or eliminate.
  • The army was ordered to wipe out the enemy stronghold.
  • The debt was wiped out by the inheritance.

Synonyms

• For a fall/spill: crash, spill, tumble.
• For destruction: annihilation, obliteration, eradication, decimation, rout (for defeat).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• (To be) a wipeout: Can describe something that is a complete failure or a person who is extremely tired.
  • The party was a total wipeout; nobody showed up. (Complete failure)
  • After the marathon, I'm a wipeout. (Exhausted person)

Noun

1. a spill in some sport (as a fall from a bicycle or while skiing or being capsized on a surfboard)
2. an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something