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
locked out; locking out; locks out
: to subject (a body of employees) to a lockout
Examples of lockout in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, each of baseball’s 30 teams reportedly has committed some $75 million in case of a lockout.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Northern Indiana Public Service Company locked out its employees, who are with the United Steelworkers Local Union 12775 and 13796, Thursday afternoon as the company and the unions couldn’t reach an agreement on contract negotiations.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lockout
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Noun
According to Post-Tribune archives, the lockout of USW 7-1 employees went into effect at midnight March 19.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, each of baseball’s 30 teams reportedly has committed some $75 million in case of a lockout.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
Despite rampant speculation about what might happen if two Republicans advance to the general election, Guerra said the odds of Democrats being locked out of the race are, in reality, slim.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Northern Indiana Public Service Company locked out its employees, who are with the United Steelworkers Local Union 12775 and 13796, Thursday afternoon as the company and the unions couldn’t reach an agreement on contract negotiations.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lockout
Cite this Entry
“Lockout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockout. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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