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

With a lockout threatening the 2027 season, McCutchen almost certainly would be agreeable. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

The longest work stoppage occurred in the NHL from September 2004 to July 2005, when CBA negotiations dragged on for a 310-day lockout. —Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

Verb

Party insiders pick a nominee, campaigns are truncated to a few short weeks, and challengers are locked out before the public ever hears their names. —Grace Rauh, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026

The baseball owners will likely lock out the players after this season in hopes of installing a salary cap that will curb the sort of spending that has fueled the Dodgers’ consecutive championships. —Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 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