work stoppage

noun

: concerted cessation of work by a group of employees usually more spontaneous and less serious than a strike

Examples of work stoppage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But of the last 25 years that a Stanley Cup champion was decided – remember, with the 2005 work stoppage there was no Cup winner – only four winners of the regular-season trophy also won the Cup, and none since Chicago in 2013. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026

The two sides had been running out of time to come to a deal to avoid a work stoppage, which would result in a citywide scramble for landlords and their tenants. —Doug Williams, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

Hundreds of teachers in southeast Los Angeles County went on strike Thursday in the Little Lake City School District, marking the first teacher work stoppage in the district’s 150-year history. —Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

Lufthansa pilots conduct two-day work stoppage With fuel prices making a dent in overall air capacity, the problem is exacerbated by a pilots’ strike at Lufthansa that began Monday morning and will continue through Tuesday night. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

work stoppage

noun

: a cessation of work by employees as a job action

Note: Work stoppage is often used to refer to a cessation of work that is less serious and more spontaneous than one referred to as a strike. As used in the Labor Management Relations Act strike refers to “any…concerted stoppage of work by employees…and any concerted slowdown or other concerted interruption of operations by employees.”