# waterloo

/ˈwɔtɝˌɫu/ (US) · /wˈɔːtəlˌuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/waterloo
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a final defeat

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a final, crushing defeat that ends someone's power or success.

For teachers: a decisive, final defeat or setback, especially one that occurs after a period of great success.

- The scandal proved to be the politician's Waterloo, and he resigned the next day.
- After years of aggressive market expansion, the company met its Waterloo when it failed to account for the sudden shift in consumer privacy laws.

Usage: Commonly used in the idiom 'to meet one's Waterloo'.

### 2. historical battle/place

noun · CEFR B2

the name of a village in Belgium where Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815.

For teachers: the site in present-day Belgium of the Battle of Waterloo (1815), which resulted in the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte.

- Many tourists visit Waterloo to see the monuments on the old battlefield.
- The Battle of Waterloo remains one of the most studied military engagements in European history due to its profound geopolitical consequences.

## Examples

- The new law proved to be the minister's waterloo.
- After years of winning every case, the lawyer met his waterloo when he faced a witness he couldn't rattle.
- The ambitious expansion into the overseas market, once hailed as a visionary move, ultimately became the company's waterloo, leading to a total collapse of its share price.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.