Word
dropout
US/ˈdɹɑˌpaʊt/
UK/dɹˈɒpaʊt/
Countable noun Education
Definition
n. a person who leaves school, college, or a training program before they have finished it. It can also mean the act of stopping something before it is complete.
n. a person who withdraws from an educational institution or a competitive process before completion. In technical contexts, refers to a momentary loss of signal or power.
Examples
“He became a successful entrepreneur after being a college dropout.”
“The university implemented new mentoring programs to reduce the high dropout rate among first-year engineering students.”
“While some view the high school dropout as a failure of the individual, sociologists often point to systemic economic barriers that force students into the workforce prematurely.”
Examples
simple
“He became a successful entrepreneur after being a college dropout.”
contextual
“The university implemented new mentoring programs to reduce the high dropout rate among first-year engineering students.”
complex
“While some view the high school dropout as a failure of the individual, sociologists often point to systemic economic barriers that force students into the workforce prematurely.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'dropout rate' or 'dropout student'.
Etymology
Deverbal from drop out.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/dropout