BusinessJuly 28, 2026

shakeout

SHAKE-out

Definition

A period during which an industry or market experiences a sharp decline in the number of competitors, often caused by competition, consolidation, or economic shifts.

Etymology

Derived from the phrasal verb 'shake out,' which originated in the mid-19th century to describe the process of removing debris or excess items by shaking, later evolving into a business term for market purging.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the inevitable consolidation in the nuclear startup market, where many small firms will likely fail or be acquired as the industry matures.

Nuclear energy startup funding is heating up

Read the full article ↗

Axios

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