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

Moreover, doing so may be all the more complicated this offseason by a potential lockout as of December 1 amid negotiations for baseball’s next Collective Bargaining Agreement. — Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

This stark contrast in valuations and the differing perspectives between MLB and the Players Association are setting the stage for contentious negotiations, with a potential lockout looming. — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

This locks out the very populations- people who inject drugs, incarcerated people and Medicaid beneficiaries- who carry most of the disease burden. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

If you get locked out of your dorm room, for example, your RA has a key to get you back in. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lockout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

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