bailout

1 of 2

noun

bail·​out ˈbāl-ˌau̇t How to pronounce bailout (audio)
Synonyms of bailoutnext
: a rescue from financial distress

bail out

2 of 2

verb

bailed out; bailing out; bails out

intransitive verb

1
: to parachute from an aircraft
2
: to abandon a harmful or difficult situation
also : leave, depart

Synonyms of bailout

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Verb

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Examples of bailout in a Sentence

Noun government bailouts of large corporations Verb if the meeting seems like it will never end, find an excuse to bail out the government bailed out the savings and loan industry
Recent Examples on the Web
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
But that boom eventually faded, overwhelmed by larger forces including the rise of the regulatory state and increasingly generous government bailouts. — Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 Investors who position for those bailouts stand to benefit, Hayes said, pointing to the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and other episodes over the past two decades. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
Townsend stretched on the sideline, but placekicker Slye came out for a punt on fourth-and-1 only to be bailed out when Cleveland had 12 men on the field. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 After promising to bail out the suspect accused of assaulting Rozay’s son, William Roberts III, 50 posted a video of the 20-year-old, who thanked the G-Unit boss after posting bond. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bailout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1939, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bailout was in 1925

Rhymes for bailout

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Browse Nearby Words

bailor
bailout
bail out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bailout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bailout. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bail out

verb
1
: to jump out of an airplane with a parachute
2
: to help from a difficult situation

Legal Definition

bailout

noun
bail·​out ˈbāl-ˌau̇t How to pronounce bailout (audio)
: a rescue from financial distress
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