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

Example Sentences

Shares of both have surged since debuting in January, promising sizable rewards for early investors before their lockup periods expire next month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Instead of a typical 180-day lockup expiration for early investors, there are rolling lockup expirations with some tied to stock performance.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

By the end of a lockup, it’s typical for a company’s free float to rise to 50% to 60% of its value External link, so the supply of public shares can grow dramatically.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Employees and other insiders generally won’t be able to sell their pre-IPO shares for a few months, because of lockup periods intended to prevent a flood of sudden sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

It made my alibi sound a wee bit suspicious, and that’s how I got thrown in the lockup.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• penitentiary