What does "brownout" mean?
A period of low alternating current line voltage, causing a reduction in illumination.
Brownout
noun
noun ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A period of low alternating current line voltage, causing a reduction in illumination.
- Grammar: brownout is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: blackout, degraded operation, dimout, power throttling.
- Useful contrasts: full performance, unrestricted operation, voltage surge.
- Usage evidence: When demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, a brownout occurs.
How to use "brownout"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "brownout" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "brownout" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "brownout" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "brownout" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "brownout" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "blackout" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "brownout", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A period of low alternating current line voltage, causing a reduction in illumination.
"When demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, a brownout occurs."
- 2 darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft) wordnet
- 3 A temporary dimming of vision, usually with a brown hue and accompanied by loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision.
"On rising suddenly from her chair she experienced a brownout and had to sit down again quickly."
- 4 A temporary closing of a fire station, usually due to budget restrictions.
"Fire departments across the country have been forced to rely on rolling brownouts because of the recession."
- 5 A power outage during the day; distinguished from a blackout, which occurs at night.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A moment or period where something is weakened, diminished or less effective. figuratively, uncommon
- 7 A blackout, regardless of time of day. Australia, Hong-Kong, Philippines
"Remember that you can't send or receive a fax if there is a brownout. ... Due to blackouts (the Philippine term is brownout), especially during the dry season, be prepared with a flashlight and don't forget to save your data in your PC."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
full performanceunrestricted operationvoltage surge
Example
"When demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, a brownout occurs."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "brownout"?
Common synonyms include: blackout, degraded operation, dimout, power throttling, voltage dip, voltage drop.
How do you use "brownout" in a sentence?
When demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, a brownout occurs.
Etymology
A deverbal from brown out, by analogy with blackout.