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

The bursting of the dot-com bubble in 2000 was also preceded by the expiration of these so-called lockup periods.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

According to the fund’s prospectus, shares purchased prior to Feb. 20 are subject to a six-month lockup period, which limits the liquidity of the fund.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

The firm sold a small amount of stock at the IPO but hasn’t unloaded a share since then despite an expiration of lockup restrictions, Barron’s calculates.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

That strategy faltered when the long lockup investments returned an annualized 7.4% in the three years ended June 30, according to Cambridge Associates—much of it paper gains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

The main county lockup was miles away in Key West.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• penitentiary