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outage

OW-tij /ˈaʊtɪdʒ/

nounC1TOEFLIELTS

technicalformal

A period when a power supply or other service is not available or when equipment is shut down.

Specifically refers to a loss of service (power, internet, network) over a period, often affecting a broad area or many users. It implies a complete cessation of service, not just a slowdown.

The story behind the word. The word 'outage' is a relatively modern English creation, formed by combining 'out' (meaning 'not in operation' or 'absent') with the suffix '-age', which denotes a state, condition, or action (as in 'storage' or 'leakage'). It emerged in the mid-20th century, specifically to describe periods when a service, particularly electricity, was unavailable. It neatly captures the idea of something being 'out of' service.

Word relationships

blackout: Primarily refers to a power outage, often implying a complete loss of electricity.
shutdown: Can be intentional or unintentional; 'outage' specifically refers to a loss of service.
disruption: Broader term for any disturbance; an 'outage' is a complete disruption of service.

uptime: The period during which a system or service is operational.
availability: The state of being accessible and ready for use.

Commonly confused with

disruption: An 'outage' is a complete cessation of service, a specific and severe type of 'disruption'. A disruption can be less severe than a full outage.
breakdown: A 'breakdown' is a mechanical failure. An 'outage' is a loss of service, which might be caused by a breakdown but refers to the effect (no service) rather than the cause (broken machine).

Collocations

power outage
network outage
internet outage
service outage
widespread outage
experience an outage

Example sentences

"A major power outage left thousands of homes without electricity for several hours after the storm." Reporting a widespread service interruption.
"The internet service provider announced a planned outage for maintenance, which would affect connectivity overnight." Discussing a network problem.
"Due to an unexpected server outage, our online services are currently unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience." A company explaining why their services are down.

Memory hook

An 'OUTAGE' means the power is 'OUT' for an 'AGE' (a long time). OUTAGE = OUT for an AGE

When not to use

Do not use 'outage' for a single device failure (e.g., your personal laptop 'crashed'). It's typically for a service or infrastructure failure.

Fun facts

The term 'outage' became widely used in the context of electricity supply in the 1930s and 40s.
It is distinct from 'blackout' which specifically refers to electrical power loss, while 'outage' can apply to any service (internet, water, etc.).