plural holdouts
1
a
: a person who refuses to reach an agreement until certain terms are met : a person who holds out
He says he might be a holdout at the start of the next season if the team doesn't agree to pay him more.
b
: an act of holding out for something
He is expected to end his three-week holdout and join the team tomorrow.
2
: a person who continues to do or use something after others have stopped doing or using it
A few holdouts still use typewriters, but nearly everybody uses computers now.
Cite this Entry
“Holdout.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/holdout. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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