Synonyms

sickout

American

[sik-out] / ˈsɪkˌaʊt /

noun

an organized absence from work by employees on the pretext of sickness, as to avoid the legal problems or antistrike clauses that would be invoked in the case of a formal strike.

Etymology

Origin of sickout

1950–55; probably sick ¹ + (walk)out

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.

On Nov. 10, the team executed a one-day sickout.

From Washington Post • Nov. 22, 2022

One current House Democratic staffer participating in the sickout described working nearly 20 hours of overtime each week since November.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 17, 2022

The move by students within the district comes after teachers staged a "sickout" on Jan. 7.

From Fox News • Jan. 13, 2022

In Oakland, where Bacigalupi lives, schools did not reopen until August 2021, and a teacher sickout protesting conditions closed them for one day last week.

From Washington Times • Jan. 12, 2022

When the district learned of a possible sickout, administrators began asking families to keep students home Friday, Sasaki said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2022

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023