: an organized absence from work by workers on the pretext of sickness

Examples of sick-out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Last season, Maggie faced nursing union negotiations, culminating in a sick-out. Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Aug. 2025 Maggie’s major Season 10 storyline involved the tense nursing union negotiations at the hospital, which culminated in a sick-out. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 Earlier this month, hundreds of Metro bus riders staged a sick-out in protest of the rising number of assaults among their ranks carried out by passengers. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sick-out was in 1951

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Cite this Entry

“Sick-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sick-out. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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