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

Their research also found that basic identity controls — such as login rate limits, password complexity, and account lockout policies — were missing as much as 40% of the time. —Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

After the owners’ lockout following the 2021 season, the 2022 collective bargaining agreement included a balanced schedule in 2023. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025

Verb

Both subreddits attracted so much attention that they were made private following the engagement announcement, leaving content-hungry commentators locked out. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Mortgage rates have remained elevated since 2023 and home prices are at record highs, locking out many millennials and Gen Z buyers from the housing market. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025

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