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 lockout continued until Friday afternoon, when city leaders said their access was restored without any immediate explanation from federal officials. —John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2025

Regardless of the exact bargaining priorities owners settle on, another lockout appears likely when the CBA expires at midnight entering Dec. 2, 2026. —Evan Drellich, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025

Verb

Musk's Department of Goverment Efficiency team has descended upon multiple federal offices, in some cases locking out workers and ordering them to halt work, tearing down signs and blocking payments. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

And some state agencies have been locked out of these funds. —Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 14 Feb. 2025

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