lock-in
noun
an act or instance of becoming unalterable, unmovable, or rigid.
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lock-in
American
[lok-in]
/ ˈlɒkˌɪn /
noun
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an act or instance of becoming unalterable, unmovable, or rigid.
-
commitment, binding, or restriction.
lock-in
British
noun
lock in
Idioms
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Enclose, surround, as in The ship was completely locked in ice . [c. 1400s]
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Also, lock into . Fix firmly in position, commit to something. This phrase often occurs as , as in She felt she was locked in a binding agreement , or Many of the stockholders are locked into their present positions . [Mid-1900s]
Etymology
Origin of lock-in
First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase lock in
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Current processes disadvantage open-source providers through requirements that name proprietary products while failing to take notice of the total cost of ownership and ignoring the problem of vendor lock-in.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
The so-called lock-in effect is showing signs of easing and buyers are seeing more options and price cuts, he noted.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 3, 2026
In 2024, existing-home sales were 4.06 million, the lowest level since 1995, largely due to mortgage rate lock-in.
From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026
Granted, he isn’t in a position to point out the role of tariffs in raising construction costs, but he might have named building regulations or mortgage lock-in or environmental rules.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026
“Here to present our official library lock-in rules,” said Dr. Zinchenko, “is Mrs. Gail Tobin, head librarian of the Alexandriaville Public Library back in the 1960s, when Mr. Lemoncello was your age.”
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
