holdout

[hohld-out]

noun

1. an act or instance of holding out.

2. a person who delays signing a contract in hopes of gaining more favorable terms.

   The basketball star was a holdout until they offered more money.

3. a person who declines to participate, cooperate, agree, etc..

   Aside from one or two holdouts, everyone contributed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of holdout¹

First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase hold out

Example Sentences

Censoring Kimmel was a political activator for viewers in holdout markets who are flooding their local stations with complaints and pressuring their community advertisers.

From Salon

And then there was Imaleava, who last spring made NIL history by being college football’s unofficial first holdout before being part of college football’s unofficial first trade.

From Los Angeles Times

Though the letter has been endorsed by hundreds of academics with varying views on Israel’s war in Gaza, there were still some notable holdouts.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite starting camp a few days later than other rookies because of a contract holdout, Harris is competing for a starting role in the wake of Mike Williams’ sudden retirement.

From Los Angeles Times

In the quiet, narrow lanes of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, a small, dimly lit workshop stands as one of the last holdouts of a vanishing craft.

From BBC

Related Words

• bonus 
• chunk 
• fee 
• interest 
• percent 
• proportion 
• rate 
• ratio 
• royalty