lockout

American  

[lok-out] / ˈlɒkˌaʊt /

noun

1. the temporary closing of a business or the refusal by an employer to allow employees to come to work until they accept the employer's terms.

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lockout Cultural  

1. The withholding of work from employees and closing down of a plant by an employer during a labor dispute.

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Etymology

Origin of lockout

First recorded in 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase lock out

Example Sentences

The current agreement expires Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected.

From Los Angeles Times

Demands for a cap will meet with strong resistance from the MLB Players Union, raising the prospect of a labor stoppage -- a player strike or a lockout by owners -- that could disrupt the 2027 season.

From Barron's

If a lockout is happening next January, as it likely will be, the fan festival will not be happening.

From Los Angeles Times

Others say the partial funding is a functional lockout.

From Los Angeles Times

The WNBA's current collective bargaining agreement will end on October 31, 2025, raising the possibility of a lockout if no agreement is reached before the deadline.

From Barron's

Related Words

• blockage
• closure
• interruption
• layoff
• shutdown
• walkout