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

The league has a plan for how to handle talking publicly about the negotiation for the next collective bargaining agreement between the league and players, which is essentially guaranteed to result in a lockout this offseason. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

The previous lockout spanned 99 days during the 2021-22 offseason. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 July 2026

Verb

South Florida patients insured through UnitedHealthcare could be locked out of in-network care at the University of Miami Health System as soon as August if a deal isn’t made soon. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

This year’s primary for governor caused heartburn among both Democrats and Republicans who feared getting locked out of the November general election. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 16 July 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