# wipeout

/ˈwaɪˌpaʊt/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wipeout
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a total failure or a complete loss of something. It can also mean a sudden, total collapse of a business or a person's finances.

For teachers: a total failure, defeat, or collapse; a sudden and complete loss of assets or status. Often used in financial or competitive contexts to describe a catastrophic event.

## Examples

- The company faced a total wipeout after the market crashed.
- After investing all his savings in the startup, he suffered a total wipeout when the business failed.
- The sudden regulatory changes led to a massive wipeout in the tech sector, wiping out billions of dollars in market value within a single trading session.

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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.