fallout

or fall-out

[ fawl-out ]

noun

1. the settling to the ground of airborne particles ejected into the atmosphere from the earth by explosions, eruptions, forest fires, etc., especially such settling from nuclear explosions radioactive fallout. Compare rainout.
2. the particles themselves. Compare rainout.
3. an unexpected or incidental effect, outcome, or product:

   the psychological fallout of being obese.

4. effects; results:

   emotional fallout from a divorce.

fallout

/ ˈfɔːlˌaʊt /

noun

1. the descent of solid material in the atmosphere onto the earth, esp of radioactive material following a nuclear explosion
2. any solid particles that so descend
3. informal.
   side-effects; secondary consequences

verb

1. informal.
   to quarrel or disagree
2. intr to happen or occur
3. military to leave a parade or disciplinary formation

sentence substitute

1. military the order to leave a parade or disciplinary formation

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallout¹

First recorded in 1945–50; noun use of verb phrase fall out

Example Sentences

It might be worth remembering that when the annus horribilis of 2020 dawned, Trump was poised to win reelection, much to the chagrin of the left-liberal forces that had spent three years opposing him and trying to deal with the fallout of the White House’s exhausting day-to-day chaos.

From Slate

His family currently have no contact with him after years of dealing with the fallout from his lies.

From BBC

So when we hear Berry's voice, whether in Prime Video’s “Fallout” or as a charismatic Beaver in “The Wild Robot,” it can’t be helped if the image of his vampire in Staten Island sparks a mild cognitive dissonance.

From Salon

“For those that decided and moved to break Biden, and then you got the election that you wanted, it’s appropriate to own the outcome and fallout,” he told political outlet Semafor in an interview.

From BBC

Instead, it seems that Trump cares about having Kennedy’s support—and that he doesn’t care to think too much about public health matters, despite the recent overhaul of American society by a major pandemic or the continued fallout of a seismic shift in reproductive health access in the country, with life-or-death implications.

From Slate