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
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 17 Apr. 2024
That’s according to the Labor Action Tracker, created by Cornell University and the University of Illinois, documented 470 work stoppages in 2023 — including 466 strikes and four lockouts.
—Cortlynn Stark, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lockout 
Noun
Investigators determined the employer failed to include detailed steps for lockout/tagout procedures, test its safety procedures annually and guard machines adequately.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 17 Apr. 2024
That’s according to the Labor Action Tracker, created by Cornell University and the University of Illinois, documented 470 work stoppages in 2023 — including 466 strikes and four lockouts.
—Cortlynn Stark, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lockout
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lockout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Lockout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockout. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
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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