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

This type of attack avoids account lockouts that occur when attempting multiple logins on the same account. —Craig Davies, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

The Americans rally from a three-point deficit to tie the score, but Graeme McDowell beats Hunter Mahan in the final singles match. 2012 — The NHL cancels the first two weeks of the regular season, the second time games had been lost because of a lockout in seven years. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024

Verb

Biden’s team was locked out of briefings from critical federal agencies like the Pentagon, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. —Brian Bennett, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024

Getting locked out of the house is a painful, but all too familiar reality for millions of people. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

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