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

When a lockout hits, a team’s operating cash flow goes dark, but an owner’s liquidity remains intact through standing institutional bids and private debt. — Chris Koras, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026

This isn’t what the Mets wanted for the last season before a lockout, and before a new CBA brings fundamental changes to the game. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Sep. 2026

Verb

Probate court took the property, and DeSenti was then locked out of the house, unable to even finish moving out. — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Overregulation also paralyzed foreign military sales, and procedural and financial barriers to entry locked out small and medium-sized companies. — Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 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