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

The expectation is that another lockout will occur in 2026-27 when the current labor deal expires, with odds of the owners pushing for a salary cap increasing. —Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Since the lockout began Sunday, DHL has used replacement workers and can legally do so until June 20. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 June 2025

Verb

For Cynthia, now showing up to work as a manager means being on the other side when a factory locks out its employees, who are also friends. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 9 June 2025

With the ultras locked out of the ground, the Auteuil group attended the PSG women’s team’s games instead, to show their continuing support. —Tomás Hill López-Menchero, New York Times, 31 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