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

That sparked a national outcry and hastened the end of the lockout.

From Los Angeles Times

The NFL is facing a potential lockout with its game officials over money and officiating quality measures, with the current agreement expiring May 31.

From The Wall Street Journal

A lockout next winter is all but certain.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ryan Long, a 26-year-old minor league pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles system and a union leader, thinks the players association should try to understand how regular working people feel about a potential lockout.

From Los Angeles Times

A lockout delaying the 2027 season isn’t out of the question, which would be a fiasco.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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