floodgate

noun

flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
Synonyms of floodgatenext
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst
opened the floodgates of criticism

Examples of floodgate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Critically, the case was brought by one private party and not as a class action, and the judgment was for $6 million, so the floodgates have opened for similar suits by anyone, and the flood has started. — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 What Meta is really concerned about, though, is that the floodgates will open as public opinion turns, and that lawsuits like these — not just by states but by school districts, localities, individuals and so on — will start piling up. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 The threat of the closing of the final floodgate on 53rd Street was the deciding factor in lifelong resident Destiny Davis's decision to leave. — Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 16 Aug. 2026 The floodgates opened offensively, with Clark finishing the night with 29 points and 10 assists. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for floodgate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flodgate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodgate was in the 13th century

Rhymes for floodgate

See All Rhymes for floodgate

Browse Nearby Words

flood fallowing
floodgate
flood gull
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Floodgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodgate. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate ˈfləd-ˌgāt How to pronounce floodgate (audio)
: a gate (as in a canal) for controlling a body of water : sluice

Legal Definition

floodgate

noun
flood·​gate
: something serving to restrain an outburst (as of litigation)
—usually used in pl.
a decision that will open the floodgates for other claims

More from Merriam-Webster on floodgate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for floodgate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about floodgate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All