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

While the prospect of a Democrat lockout was always relatively low, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks penned an open letter on March 3, asking his party's candidates who lack a viable path to victory to drop out before the filing deadline. —Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

But, what could impact BP’s lockout is if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed down and the price of gas stays above $4 a gallon, then BP officials may feel pressure to end the lockout and make money, Dau-Schmidt said. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026

Verb

For a while now, the dominant narrative of the gubernatorial race has been whether the two Republican candidates who have sat at the top of recent polling could lock out the Democrats and advance to the general. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026

That would lock out Democrats from the November ballot and guarantee the election of a Republican. —Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 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