1
: an act or instance of buying out
2
: a financial incentive offered to an employee in exchange for an early retirement or voluntary resignation

buy out

2 of 2

verb

bought out; buying out; buys out

transitive verb

1
: to purchase the share or interest of
2
: to purchase the entire stock-in-trade and the goodwill of (a business)

Examples of buyout 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.
Noun
Hostile takeovers and leveraged buyouts in the 1980s enforced the new discipline. Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 For weeks, speculation tied LaVine to a potential buyout, as the Kings turn toward youth in yet another Sacramento rebuild. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
Her father hoped to buy out his siblings, who lived in different parts of the country and weren't interested in keeping the property. Sharon Epperson,stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 The sisters clash when Tonina secretly buys out a part of the family’s island house from a cousin, even though the sisters had agreed to buy it together. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buyout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buyout was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buyout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buyout. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Legal Definition

buyout

1 of 2 noun
: an act or instance of buying out

buy out

2 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to purchase the share or interest of
2
: to purchase the entire tangible and intangible assets of (a business)

More from Merriam-Webster on buyout

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster