layoff

noun lay·off \ ˈlā-ˌȯf \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Examples: layoff in a Sentence

Definition of layoff

1 : a period of inactivity or idleness

2 : the act of laying off an employee or a workforce; also : shutdown

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Examples of layoff in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of layoff from the Web

When the economy tanked a decade ago, Ellen Waylonis took a voluntary layoff from her marketing job and pursued her longtime secret ambition: running off to join the circus.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Her circus business embraces the unconventional," 14 July 2018
In March, a consulting group hired by Univision recommended the Fusion Media Group's budget be slashed by more than a third and also recommended more layoffs.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "Univision wants to sell The Onion and Gizmodo Media Group websites," 10 July 2018
The announcement comes a week after a report that Univision was planning to layoff or buy out as much as 15% of Onion Inc.’s workforce.

— kevin kelleher, Fortune, "Univision Explores Sale of Gizmodo, Deadspin, The Onion, and 10 Other Assets," 10 July 2018
Now, Mid-Continent is strongly considering a second round of 200 layoffs, says company spokeswoman Elizabeth Heaton, and all 500 employees could be axed by Labor Day.

— paul davidson, USA TODAY, "U.S. trade war with China, other countries: Layoffs, reduced hours, thinner profits," 6 July 2018
In the short run, tariffs may force U.S. brands to move some of their production overseas and result in layoffs among European or Chinese companies directly affected by tariffs.

— rick noack, Washington Post, "As Trump’s trade war kicks off, Europe celebrates tariff-hit Harley-Davidson," 6 July 2018
The ebbing tides of winter layoffs cut O’Donnell loose from Angeline.

— craig laban, Philly.com, "Atlantic City restaurants: New casinos, diverse independent spots create rising culinary energy," 6 July 2018
Last month, the company announced layoffs believed to hit its solar installation division.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Tesla Is Revving Up to Build the World's Largest Battery Farm in California," 2 July 2018
Vaughn Hillyard / NBC News Before this month’s layoffs, the company had doubled its workforce since 2012.

— NBC News, "Trump's trade war might close down America's last nail factory — but workers remain diehard Trump fans," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'layoff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of layoff

1889

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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layoff Synonyms

lay off

verb

Definition of lay 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

See lay off defined for kids

Examples of lay off in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of lay off

1748

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

lay off Synonyms

Synonyms

break, break off, break up, can [slang], cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, stop;

Near Antonyms

carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on;

advance, proceed, progress;

Related Words

complete, conclude, finish;

close (down);

deactivate;

block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem;

call, suspend;

arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch (or staunch), stunt, suppress, turn back;

pause, stay, suspend;

Phrases

have done with, put the kibosh on;

Financial Definition of LAYOFF

layoff

noun

What It Is

A layoff is a temporary or permanent termination of employment by an employer.

How It Works

Let's say John Doe works for Company XYZ. He has worked there for 15 years. Company XYZ begins having cash flow problems and has to reduce its labor expense in order to avoid going out of business. In turn, it decides to shed 1,000 workers, of which John is one. This mass termination is called a layoff.

A layoff is not the same as being fired. Firings typically occur when an employee is at fault or has disobeyed company policies; terminations are not necessarily a direct reflection of a particular employee's performance (although it takes a village to wreck a company).

Why It Matters

From an investing standpoint, layoffs indicate a struggling company and thus are red flags for their investors. Layoffs can be surprises to people, and they are one of many reasons that investors should have emergency funds on hand at all times.

However, people often get some indication that a layoff is coming. The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers to provide 60 days' notice (sometimes more) of plant closings and mass layoffs. However, this applies to companies with more than 100 employees (and that 100 generally cannot include people who have been with the company for fewer than six months or part-timers).

Source: Investing Answers