brownout

noun

brown·​out ˈbrau̇-ˌnau̇t How to pronounce brownout (audio)
: a period of reduced voltage of electricity caused especially by high demand and resulting in reduced illumination

Examples of brownout in a Sentence

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.
Called the Philippines's surf capital, Siargao is beloved by surfers who are tired of Bali and Hawaii's crowded line-ups and willing to deal with the island’s developing infrastructure — brownouts are the norm here. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2024 It’s helped that Southern California Edison’s lines are mostly underground and that the port, deemed a vital infrastructure, is exempt from brownouts, an outage resulting from a temporary drop in voltage. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2024 That’s placed more demand on the grid, with occasional brownouts having been reported at some ports in the East and Gulf coasts, said the Waterfront Employers’ Vogel. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2024 These occurrences are known as rolling blackouts or brownouts (technically, a rotating outage) when power consumption is so high that customers are forced to shut down their electrical power. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brownout 

Word History

Etymology

brown + blackout

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brownout was in 1942

Dictionary Entries Near brownout

Cite this Entry

“Brownout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brownout. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

brownout

noun
brown·​out ˈbrau̇-ˌnau̇t How to pronounce brownout (audio)
: a reduction in the use or availability of electric power
also : a period of dimmed lighting resulting from such reduction

More from Merriam-Webster on brownout

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!