blownout

Blownout is not a widely established term in standard dictionaries and is most often encountered as a nonstandard or informal spelling of related phrases such as blowout or blown out. Its meaning, when used, depends on the context, and most writers would prefer the conventional forms to avoid ambiguity.

In sports journalism, blowout refers to a game decided by a large margin of victory. The term is typically used as a noun or adjective, as in “a blowout win” or “they were blown out by the opponent.” In casual writing, some readers may encounter the merged form blownout, but it is considered nonstandard for this meaning.

In audio and electronics, blown out describes equipment that has suffered damage from excessive signal or power, resulting in distorted or absent sound. A speaker or amplifier may be described as blown out after being exposed to peak levels, and the phrase is commonly written with the hyphen or as two words (blown-out or blown out) rather than as a single fused word.

In medicine and anatomy, blowout fracture is a standard term for a fracture of the orbital floor caused by blunt impact. The phrase is typically hyphenated or written as two words; blownout as a single word is uncommon in this domain.

In general mechanical or safety contexts, blowout is the preferred term for sudden ruptures or failures due to pressure, while blownout, if used, is often treated as a nonstandard variant.

See also: blowout, blown out, blown-out fracture. Usage guidance: when clarity is needed, prefer blowout for the general concepts of margin of victory or sudden rupture, and blown out for descriptors of damage or defeat, avoiding blownout as a standalone term.