lockdown

noun

lock·​down ˈläk-ˌdau̇n 

plural lockdowns

1

: the confinement of prisoners to their cells for all or most of the day as a temporary security measure

2

a

: an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area or building (such as a school) during a threat of danger

For those of you unfamiliar with a school lockdown, it basically means that … when there is a threat of danger, the doors to all the classrooms and offices are locked.

—Anne Sponholtz

lockdown drills/procedures

b

: a temporary condition imposed by governmental authorities (as during the outbreak of an epidemic disease) in which most people are required to refrain from or limit activities outside the home involving public contact (such as dining out or attending large gatherings)

Authorities placed the central Chinese city under lockdown on Jan. 23 after the virus had infected hundreds of residents and was just starting its spread across the globe.

—Darryl Coote

The San Francisco Bay Area lockdown and national guidelines signal a rapid escalation of government and business efforts to halt the coronavirus spread via restrictions that will slam the brakes on economic activity.

—Ed Carson

While most people are at home during lockdown, essential workers are still on the front lines and need their children to be looked after.

—George Heagney

Examples of lockdown in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During lockdown, many loyal tasting-menu patrons relocated outside city centers, and some of those who took their places don’t seem to have the same spending power. —Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2024

Festival director Lisa Dreyer took over in 2022, when Fantastic Fest returned from lockdown, and The Debates came back with it. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024

The city became inundated with hoax bomb threats that forced lockdowns, evacuations and closures at schools, government buildings and hospitals. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Prisoners claimed that frequent lockdowns had been implemented in the jail, preventing them from exercising, showering, and more. —Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lockdown

noun

lock·​down

ˈläk-ˌdau̇n

1

: the confinement of prisoners to their cells as a security measure

2

a

: an emergency measure in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area during a threat of danger

b

: a temporary condition imposed by government authorities (as during the outbreak of an epidemic disease) in which people are required to stay in their homes and refrain from or limit activities outside the home (as dining out)

Legal Definition

lockdown

noun

lock·​down ˈläk-ˌdau̇n 

: the confinement of prisoners to their cells for a temporary period as a security measure