lockdown

American  

[lok-doun] / ˈlɒkˌdaʊn /

noun

1. the confining of prisoners to their cells, as following a riot or other disturbance.

   The prison lockdown continues, more than three weeks after the death of a guard.

2. a security measure taken during an emergency to prevent people from leaving or entering a building or other location: The governor implemented a statewide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus—residents may not leave their homes for nonessential activities.

   The school remains under lockdown due to police activity in the area.

   The governor implemented a statewide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus—residents may not leave their homes for nonessential activities.

   The army base was on lockdown after a report of shots fired.

3. a freeze or pause.

   Banks aren’t lending during this credit lockdown.

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lockdown British  

/ ˈlɒkˌdəʊn /

noun

1. a security measure in which those inside a building such as a prison, school, or hospital are required to remain confined in it for a time

   many schools remained under lockdown yesterday

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Etymology

Origin of lockdown

First recorded in 1970–75; lock ¹ + -down, probably extracted from nouns formed from phrasal verbs, such as crackdown, shutdown, etc.

Explanation

A lockdown is when people are restricted to a specific area for safety reasons. When incarcerated people are put on lockdown, they're usually confined inside their cells. Prisons and jails use lockdowns to ensure that inmates and guards are safe, and schools use them the same way, as a response to a threat of danger. During a building lockdown, no one is permitted to enter or leave. Public health lockdowns are a variation on this; the perceived threat isn't violence, but a contagious disease, and staying home reduces the rate of spread. Lockdown originated from the prison meaning and its literal locked cells.

Example Sentences

U.S. crude prices surged 51% in March for their largest monthly gain since May 2020, when the easing of Covid-19 lockdown measures and steep production cuts by the OPEC+ cartel sparked an 88% rally.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

While all of this was playing out, Burden was isolated, unable to access her support system during lockdown.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

"Obviously, the world came out of lockdowns, but for me it feels like I'm still in a lockdown," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Despite the backlash, Grimes—who told Rogan he moved his Airstream to Montana during the COVID-19 lockdown and “never left”—said he and his wife, Brazilian model Bianca Rodrigues Grimes, love living there.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

I’d be willing to guess after-school lockdown drills are not a thing.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden