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
locked out; locking out; locks out
: to subject (a body of employees) to a lockout
Examples of lockout in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Less than three months later, MacKinnon ended a lockout across ports in British Columbia and Quebec by imposing arbitration on the parties.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
Igor Epshteyn, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Think of the anxious Republicans of 2009, who for a time believed they might be locked out of the Electoral College for good.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lockout
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Noun
Bargaining is likely to start in spring 2026 for a successor to the five-year agreement with the union that ended a 99-day lockout on March 10, 2022.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Less than three months later, MacKinnon ended a lockout across ports in British Columbia and Quebec by imposing arbitration on the parties.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
Verb
Premium subscription costs also lock out many users.
—Igor Epshteyn, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Think of the anxious Republicans of 2009, who for a time believed they might be locked out of the Electoral College for good.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lockout
Cite this Entry
“Lockout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockout. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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