If you describe someone as a dropout, you disapprove of the fact that they have rejected the accepted ways of society, for example, by not having a regular job.
[disapproval]
...long-haired, dope-smoking dropouts.
2. countable noun
A dropout is someone who has left school or college before they have finished their studies.
...high-school dropouts.
3. adjective [ADJ n]
If you refer to the dropout rate, you are referring to the number of people who leave a school or college early, orleave a course or other activity before they have finished it.
The dropout rate among students is currently one in three.
dropout in British English
(ˈdrɒpˌaʊt)
noun
1.
a student who fails to complete a school or college course
2.
a person who rejects conventional society
3. drop-out rugby
a drop kick taken by the defending team to restart play, as after a touchdown
4. drop-out electronics
a momentary loss of signal in a magnetic recording medium as a result of an imperfection in its magnetic coating
verbdrop out(intr, adverb; often foll byof)
5.
to abandon or withdraw from (a school, social group, job, etc)
dropout in American English
(ˈdrɑpˌaʊt)
US
noun
one who drops out; specif., a person who withdraws from school, esp. high school,before graduating
Examples of 'dropout' in a sentence
dropout
But his family said the university dropout was a freelance journalist.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The college dropout has survived pancreatic cancer and undergone a liver transplant.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was a university dropout who turned a T-shirt printing business into a global fashion phenomenon.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He's a college dropout and rides a motorcycle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In the old days an agent was a high-school dropout too.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It charts the rise of the college dropout who became one of the modern age's most innovative entrepreneurs.
The Sun (2011)
Before any of this happened I was a high school dropout who worked in a warehouse.
The Sun (2010)
Not bad for a college dropout from Co Antrim.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I'm a beauty school dropout.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This commitment to science runs counter to the way he was first represented by the press: a school dropout who had accidentally sparked a national movement.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
dropout
British English: dropout NOUN
from society If you describe someone as a drop-out, you disapprove of the fact that they have rejected the accepted ways of society, for example by not having a regular job.
...long-haired, dope-smoking dropouts.
American English: dropout
Brazilian Portuguese: desajustado
Chinese: 离经叛道者
European Spanish: marginado
French: marginal
German: Aussteiger
Italian: emarginato
Japanese: 脱落者
Korean: 기성 체제 거부자
European Portuguese: desajustado
Latin American Spanish: marginado
British English: dropout NOUN
from school A dropout is someone who has left school or college before they have finished their studies.
...high-school dropouts.
American English: dropout
Brazilian Portuguese: desistente
Chinese: 退学
European Spanish: estudiante que ha abandonado los estudios
French: jeune qui a abandonné ses études
German: Abbrecher
Italian: chi ha abbandonato gli studi
Japanese: 中退者
Korean: 낙오자
European Portuguese: desistente
Latin American Spanish: estudiante que ha abandonado los estudios
British English: dropout ADJECTIVE
If you refer to the drop-out rate, you are referring to the number of people who leave a school or college early, or leave a course or other activity before they have finished it.
The drop-out rate among students is currently one in three.
American English: dropout
Brazilian Portuguese: de desistência
Chinese: 退学的
European Spanish: de abandono
French: d'abandon
German: Abbrecher-
Italian: di abbandono
Japanese: 中退の
Korean: 중퇴의
European Portuguese: de desistência
Latin American Spanish: de abandono
British English: drop-out NOUN
If you describe someone as a drop-out, you disapprove of the fact that they have rejected the accepted ways of society.
American English: dropout
Brazilian Portuguese: pessoa que abandona o trabalho, os estudos etc
Chinese: 离经叛道者
European Spanish: marginado
French: marginal
German: Aussteiger
Italian: emarginato
Japanese: 脱落者
Korean: 낙오자
European Portuguese: pessoa que abandona o trabalho, os estudos, etc.