sellouts
|sell-out|
/ˈsɛl.aʊt/
(sellout)
completely sold; betrayed principles
Etymology
'sellout' originates from English as a compound of 'sell' + 'out', where 'sell' ultimately comes from Old English 'sellan' meaning 'to give' or 'to deliver', and 'out' from Old English 'ūt' meaning 'out'.
'sellout' developed from the phrasal verb 'sell out' (attested in the 19th century) and then became written as the compound noun and adjective 'sellout' or hyphenated 'sell-out' to refer to both sold‑out events and derogatory descriptions of people.
Initially used for the idea of selling all items or tickets (being 'out' of stock), the noun sense broadened by the 20th century to include the figurative meaning of someone who 'sells' their principles—'a sellout'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'sellout': events or instances in which all tickets or items are sold (complete sell-through); commercial successes.
There were several sellouts at the theater this summer.
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Noun 2
plural form of 'sellout': people who abandon principles, fans, or original supporters in exchange for money, success, or popularity (derogatory).
Many fans called the band sellouts after they changed their sound for mainstream radio.
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Last updated: 2025/12/29 22:14