lockout

1 of 2

noun

lock·​out ˈläk-ˌau̇t 

: the withholding of employment by an employer and the whole or partial closing of the business establishment in order to gain concessions from or resist demands of employees

lock out

2 of 2

verb

locked out; locking out; locks out

transitive verb

: to subject (a body of employees) to a lockout

Examples of lockout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ovechkin was drafted with the first overall pick by Washington in 2004, but because of a lockout, his debut was postponed a year. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025

The suspension system consists of a double-triple tree motorcycle-style conventional fork with preload and lockout. —William Roberson, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025

Verb

Premium subscription costs also lock out many users. —Igor Epshteyn, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Think of the anxious Republicans of 2009, who for a time believed they might be locked out of the Electoral College for good. —Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lockout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

lockout

noun

lock·​out -ˌau̇t 

: the stopping of work or closing of a plant by an employer during a labor dispute in order to make the employees come to terms

Legal Definition

lockout

noun

lock·​out ˈläk-ˌau̇t 

: the withholding of employment by an employer in order to gain concessions from or resist demands of employees