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 potential lockout looming, trading away a top starter at a relative affordable price would invite scrutiny. —Will Sammon, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

With the collective bargaining agreement ending after next season, a salary cap discourse may lead to a lockout. —Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

Verb

But despite having full-time jobs, many families are locked out of the rental housing market, due to low wages, soaring rents and poor credit, and have been pushed into homelessness. —CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025

The concern for Democrats would be the high number of candidates running, splitting up the vote, and giving an opportunity for two Republicans to advance to the general election, and that they would be locked out of the governorship in a race they would otherwise be favored in. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 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