layoff

noun lay·off \ ˈlā-ˌȯf \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 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

See layoff defined for English-language learners

See layoff defined for kids

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

So, just one year after the mass layoff, Southwest Key is racing to keep up with a new boom.

— michael miller, emma brown and aaron c. davis, star-telegram, "Inside a former Walmart on the Texas-Mexico border that holds nearly 1,500 immigrant boys," 16 June 2018
Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., decreased by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000 in the week ended June 9, the Labor Department said Thursday.

— josh mitchell, WSJ, "U.S. Jobless Claims Fell Last Week, Reflecting Tight Labor Market," 14 June 2018
The dates listed for the layoffs are Dec. 31 through March 2019.

— alexia elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "Allstate, Siemens among employers notifying state of mass layoffs," 12 June 2018
Age disparities in job cuts don't necessarily violate federal law if employers can show employers selected employees for layoffs based on factors other than age.

— mike rogoway, OregonLive.com, "Intel under investigation for alleged age discrimination," 25 May 2018
Plans for fewer layoffs had divided senior executives and left investors unconvinced, people familiar with internal bank discussions told WSJ.

— deutsche welle, USA TODAY, "Deutsche Bank confirms it's laying off thousands more staff," 24 May 2018
The Baltimore school board voted 6-2, with one abstention, to pass next school year’s $1.3 billion operating budget, which manages to avoid a call for layoffs but includes steep cuts for the city’s public charter schools.

— talia richman, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore school board votes to pass $1.3 billion operating budget," 9 May 2018
In the letter to the state, the only reason the company gave for the layoffs was a business reorganization.

— laura hancock, cleveland.com, "79 Philips Healthcare employees to lose jobs in Cleveland area," 2 May 2018
Rather than cultivating a reputation for hard-hitting news, Alden has become known for layoffs.

— rob byers, Time, "Only You Have the Power to Save Your Local News from Corporate Vultures," 14 Apr. 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

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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