Outage

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Word of the Day

What is Outage?

noun
A period when a service, such as electricity or the internet, is not available.

Pronunciation

US pronunciation: /ˈaʊtɪdʒ/
UK pronunciation: /ˈaʊtɪdʒ/
Slow pronunciation: OUT-ij

Meaning Explained

Outage refers to the interruption or failure of a service, often used in contexts like power outages or network disruptions.

Why This Word?

Chosen due to the massive power outage that affected the entire island of Puerto Rico on this day.

Examples of Use

Here's how this word appears in everyday language:

  • The storm caused a widespread power outage across the region.
  • The website experienced an outage due to server issues.
  • Residents were advised to prepare for potential outages during the hurricane.

Word Origins

Derived from “out” + “-age”, indicating a state of being out or unavailable.

Initially used in utility services, now common in IT and telecommunications.

First appearance in English: 1903

Word Family

Related forms of this word:

  • Noun: outage

    The data center suffered a significant outage last night.

  • Verb: out

    The system was outed due to maintenance.

  • Adjective: outage-prone

    The rural area is known to be outage-prone during storms.

Around the World

How this word appears in other languages:

  • Spanish: corte
  • French: panne
  • German: Ausfall
  • Italian: interruzione
  • Portuguese: queda

If you Already Know This Word

If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:

Blackout

A complete loss of power or information, often sudden and total.

Downtime

A period when a system is unavailable, typically used in IT contexts.

Disruption

A broader term indicating any interruption or disturbance in service or activity.

Interruption

A temporary halt or break in continuity, not necessarily due to failure.

Fun Facts

  • The term “outage” is commonly used in IT to describe periods when services are unavailable.
  • Major outages can cost companies millions in lost revenue and productivity.

Cultural Usage

  • On April 16, 2025, a massive power outage left the entire island of Puerto Rico without electricity.
  • In the movie “Live Free or Die Hard” (2007), a cyber-terrorist orchestrates a nationwide outage to disrupt infrastructure.

Common Mistakes

Often confused with “blackout” — while both refer to loss of service, “blackout” can also imply a complete loss of consciousness or information.

Micro Story

The sudden outage left the entire island in darkness, highlighting the fragility of the power grid.