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

After months of tense negotiations and uncertainty as to whether a labor lockout would occur, the WNBA season will begin in May as scheduled. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026

Buildings in the district would also get a security lockout system to improve student safety, as well as a security communication system. —Elle Meyers, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Democrats would be locked out despite the party’s statewide advantage in voter registration. —Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026

Hundreds of workers were locked out of the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, on Thursday after contract negotiations failed to produce a deal ahead of a midnight deadline. —Darius Johnson, CBS News, 19 Mar. 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