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
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Oncology nurse Dee Popp also expressed concerns that staff could be subject to layoffs after a merger.
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Layoffs at the University of Missouri System administration and operations level have started, but university leaders have not said exactly what jobs have been lost and from what departments.
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Thursday’s update follows a corporate restructuring and layoffs as Microsoft consolidates what used to be Skype’s broad European footprint.
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The Times would turn to layoffs if not enough people volunteer for buyouts, Mr. Baquet and Mr. Kahn said in the memo.
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Nashville's lengthy layoff since the conference final mean Fisher and forward Craig Smith should be available for Game 1.
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A trade union blamed it on layoffs and outsourcing of tech jobs, according to the Associated Press.
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After a 10-day layoff, RHP Cal Quantrill (3-3, 3.19) scattered three runs – two earned – on a walk and seven hits over five-plus innings.
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Only the Rockford metro area had a rise in its unemployment rate, to 6.9 percent from 6.3 percent, which officials there have attributed to temporary layoffs stemming from a revamp of a Fiat Chrysler plant and related adjustments in suppliers.
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
LAYOFF Defined for English Language Learners
layoff
playDefinition of layoff for English Language Learners
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: the act of ending the employment of a worker or group of workers
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: a period of time during which there is no activity
Learn More about layoff
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See words that rhyme with layoff Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for layoff Spanish Central: Translation of layoff Nglish: Translation of layoff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of layoff for Arabic speakers
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