lockout

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

Examples of lockout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unless something dramatic changes, baseball is headed for another lockout. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

While a lockout next winter is expected, talks are not likely to intensify until late February or early March 2027, when the possibilities of losing regular-season games and revenue near. —Ronald Blum, Fortune, 29 May 2026

Next February will determine how serious the sides are at avoiding a lengthy lockout that costs games. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 May 2026

Maintenance workers were exposed to caught-in and fall hazards while working on a hotel conveyor belt without a group lockout device. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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