drop·out
ˈdräp-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: one who drops out of school
b
: one who drops out of conventional society
c
: one who abandons an attempt, activity, or chosen path
a corporate dropout
2
: a momentary defect on a magnetic tape or disk caused by a temporary loss of signal
dropped out; dropping out; drops out
: to withdraw from participation or membership : quit
especially
: to withdraw from conventional society
Examples of dropout in a Sentence
Noun
The program is designed for dropouts who wish to get high school equivalency certificates.
Recent Examples on the Web
Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Band members were art school students and dropouts, like Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols and Joe Strummer and Mick Jones from the Clash.
—Siran Babayan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 19 May 2026
Andrew even threatened to quit law school if Maureen decided to drop out.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dropout
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Noun
The schools improved as more children attended them, and dropout rates at one school fell from 30-40 percent to 5 percent.
—Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Band members were art school students and dropouts, like Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols and Joe Strummer and Mick Jones from the Clash.
—Siran Babayan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Verb
The 5 million people dropping out of the markets could have bought health coverage elsewhere, but Cox says most probably became uninsured.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 19 May 2026
Andrew even threatened to quit law school if Maureen decided to drop out.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dropout
Cite this Entry
“Dropout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dropout
1 of 2 noun
drop·out
ˈdräp-ˌau̇t
: a person who drops out especially from a school or a training program
drop out
2 of 2 verb
: to withdraw from taking part or membership : quit
dropped out of school
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