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

Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts aren’t getting any younger, MLB’s expected lockout could erase some or all of next season, and even though he was extended in February, Preller might not be guaranteed another deadline under new ownership. —Chad Jennings, New York Times, 17 June 2026

Next week marks three months since the start of the lockout. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026

Verb

Some non-citizens with work permits are being locked out of jobs that require minimal background checks, ostensibly on the grounds of public safety. —E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 20 June 2026

Thousands were locked out of entry with few tickets to the ceremony, and many had complaints about the length of the route. —Amina Kilpatrick, NBC news, 19 June 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