lockup

American  

[lok-uhp] / ˈlɒkˌʌp /

noun

1. a jail, especially a local one for temporary detention.

2. the act of locking up or the state of being locked up.

3. a temporary imprisonment or detention, as of suspects or prisoners.

4. a stock that has been held by an individual as a long-term investment, or that a brokerage firm is required by a regulation to hold for a certain period of time before it can be sold.

5. any investment or credit instrument, as a renewed loan, in which capital is tied up for a long time.

6. Printing.

   1. the entire body of type and cuts locked up in a chase preparatory to printing or platemaking.

   2. the act or procedure of locking up type and cuts in a chase.

7. Automotive. a sudden stopping of the rotation of a wheel.

8. British Informal. a rented locker, storage space, or garage.

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Etymology

Origin of lockup

First recorded in 1760–70; noun use of verb phrase lock up

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lockup

As lockup periods expire following its June offering, SpaceX alone could add around 1% to U.S. equity supply by June 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

“It’s notoriously difficult to predict investor behavior,” Rhind said — but based on the first lockup, the second is likely to end in a “similar way,” he added.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

Meanwhile, the gains in recent days could reflect some relief after the first tranche of insider-held shares was released from lockup late last week.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

SpaceX shares rose 16% Friday, rebounding from a post-earnings selloff, as retail investors piled in even as a lockup expiration arrived that had some analysts concerned about insider selling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The cops had her back there in lockup right now with me and Ma waiting in this room out front.

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore

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