shutout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral, slightly informal, common in sports journalism
Quick answer
What does “shutout” mean?
A situation in sports where one team prevents the opposing team from scoring any points.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A situation in sports where one team prevents the opposing team from scoring any points.
To exclude or prevent someone from entering, participating, or having access to something; also a situation where one side gains complete dominance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both understand the sports meaning, but 'shutout' is more established in US sports (baseball, hockey). In the UK, 'clean sheet' (football) is more common for the same concept. The verb form 'shut out' is equally used in both.
Connotations
In US sports contexts, strong positive connotation for the winning team; in extended use, can have negative connotation of unfair exclusion.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to baseball/hockey prevalence; lower but understood in British English, especially in extended meanings.
Grammar
How to Use “shutout” in a Sentence
[team/player] + shut out + [opponent][team] + pitched/recorded + a shutout[person] + felt shut out + of/from + [group/situation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shutout” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The goalie managed to shut out the opposition for the full ninety minutes.
- Don't shut me out when you're upset; let's talk about it.
American English
- The pitcher shut out the Yankees in last night's game.
- New regulations could shut small businesses out of the market.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as adverb; 'shut out' functions phrasally.)
American English
- (Rarely used as adverb; 'shut out' functions phrasally.)
adjective
British English
- It was a shutout victory that secured their place in the finals.
- He celebrated his first shutout game as a professional.
American English
- The team is hoping for a shutout performance from their defense.
- It was a shutout bid for the government contract.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when a company is excluded from a market or deal: 'Our rival's aggressive pricing shut us out of the contract.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; appears in sports sociology or business competition analysis.
Everyday
Common for emotional or social exclusion: 'After the argument, she shut him out completely.'
Technical
Specific statistical term in sports analytics denoting games with zero points allowed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shutout”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shutout”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shutout”
- Using 'shutdown' instead of 'shutout' (shutdown = stopping operations).
- Using as a verb without space: 'They shutout the competition' (incorrect) vs. 'They shut out the competition' (correct).
- Confusing with 'lockout' (specific type of exclusion, often in labor disputes).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning a game where one side scores zero, it is one word: 'shutout'. As a verb meaning to exclude, it is a phrasal verb: 'shut out' (two words).
A shutout means one team scored zero, but the other team scored at least one point, so it's a win/loss. A tie (or draw) means both teams scored the same number of points, which could be zero, but is often not.
Yes, it's commonly used metaphorically in business, politics, and social contexts to mean 'to exclude completely' or 'to prevent from participating'.
A common mistake is confusing it with 'shutdown', which means to stop operations (e.g., a computer shutdown or a government shutdown). They are not interchangeable.
A situation in sports where one team prevents the opposing team from scoring any points.
Shutout is usually neutral, slightly informal, common in sports journalism in register.
Shutout: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃʌt.aʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃʌt.aʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shut someone out of your life”
- “shut out the noise”
- “shut out the competition”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SHUT the door + keep them OUT = SHUTOUT. Imagine a goalkeeper literally shutting a door to keep the ball out of the net.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCLUSION IS PHYSICAL BARRIER (shutting a door/gate); DOMINANCE IS A WALL (impenetrable defense).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'shutout' LEAST likely to be used?