layoff

1 of 2

noun

lay·​off ˈlā-ˌȯf 

1

: a period of inactivity or idleness

2

: the act of laying off an employee or a workforce

also : shutdown

lay off

2 of 2

verb

laid off; laying off; lays off

transitive verb

1

: to mark or measure off

2

: to cease to employ (a worker) often temporarily

3

of a bookie : to place all or part of (an accepted bet) with another bookie to reduce the risk

4

a

: to leave undisturbed

b

: avoid, quit

was advised to lay off smoking and alcohol

c

: to refrain from swinging at (a pitch)

intransitive verb

1

: to stop doing or taking something

2

: to leave one alone

wish you'd just lay off

Synonyms of layoff

Noun

• dismissal
• firing
• furlough

Verb

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• cut off
• shut off
• quit
• cut out
• leave off
• break off

Examples of layoff in a Sentence

Noun

The company announced the layoff of several hundred employees.

More layoffs are expected at the factory later this year.

The band finally has a new album after a three year layoff.

a layoff of three years

Verb

you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These layoffs impacted all employees in fine arts and preservation, architecture, and engineering positions. —Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026

The school district is already planning to cut 1,000 jobs this year through layoffs and attrition. —Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Office of Personnel Management has just taken a sensible step to deal with the problem by proposing that federal agencies lay off their lowest performers first. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2026

Despite potential low pay, healthcare has been heralded as a fast-growing career path safe from both AI disruption and recessionary impacts—leading to an influx of interest and job openings within the profession, while other sectors lay off staffers in droves. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1748, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for layoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff
• runoff

Kids Definition

layoff

1 of 2 noun

lay·​off ˈlā-ˌȯf 

1

: the act of laying off an employee or a work force

2

: a period during which there is no activity

lay off

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)lā-ˈȯf

1

: to mark or measure off

2

: to stop employing (a person) often temporarily

lay off workers

3

: to stop doing or taking something

lay off of that stuff