Outage Meaning
/ˈaʊ.tɪd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA temporary suspension of operation, especially of electrical power supply.
nounThe amount of something lost in storage or transportation.
Sentence Examples
The word "outage" is an outrage.
All hospitals are equipped with a spare generator in case of a power outage.
The power outage was caused by a squirrel.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The storm caused a power ____ that lasted for hours across the city.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The power ____ lasted for six hours and affected thousands of homes across the region.
Word Origin & History
From out + -age, on the model of shortage.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[Rural solar plant] schemes are of little help to industry or other heavy users of electricity. Nor is solar power yet as cheap as the grid. For all that, the rapid arrival of electric light to Indian villages is long overdue. When the national grid suffers its next huge outage, as it did in July 2012 when hundreds of millions were left in the dark, look for specks of light in the villages."
— 2013 July 20, “Out of the gloom”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845, archived from the original on 12 Mar 2023:
"Along with the planned de-energizations, PG&E customers are also dealing with a number of unplanned power outages – like in Davis, where about 2,700 customers are in the dark, and El Dorado Hills, where more than 5,100 customers are impacted."
— 2026 May 17, Cecilio Padilla, “PG&E planned outages start in Northern California over fire danger”, in CBS News, archived from the original on 18 May 2026:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The storm caused a power ____ that lasted for hours across the city.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The power ____ lasted for six hours and affected thousands of homes across the region.