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

Shrum said Becerra benefited from voters who feared a lockout and wanted to back the Democratic frontrunner. —Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026

According to Post-Tribune archives, previous negotiations have stalled after USW leadership asked BP to end the lockout without requiring an acceptance of its March 17 contract proposal, a request that BP has declined. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026

Verb

The Opera was locked out of its Kennedy Center offices and scrubbed from the organization’s website. —Mary Carole McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026

Although Democrats were not locked out of the November ballot, Desmond had a wide lead after the primary. —Caroline Linton, CBS News, 11 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