lockout

1 of 2

noun

lock·​out ˈläk-ˌau̇t How to pronounce lockout (audio)
Synonyms of lockoutnext
: the withholding of employment by an employer and the whole or partial closing of the business establishment in order to gain concessions from or resist demands of employees

lock out

2 of 2

verb

locked out; locking out; locks out

transitive verb

: to subject (a body of employees) to a lockout

Examples of lockout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The screen also has a lockout feature to keep pesky kids from burning themselves and making a mess on the counter. — Joe Salas june 28, New Atlas, 28 June 2026 With a lockout coming, fans who lack trust in the organization could abandon their fandom completely. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
Verb
Are independent mechanics about to get locked out of wrenching on new vehicles? — Joel Feder, The Drive, 1 July 2026 So which consumer is real — the one squeezed by prices and locked out of the housing market, or the one with a clean balance sheet and a plane ticket to Ibiza? — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lockout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lockout was in 1853

Rhymes for lockout

See All Rhymes for lockout

Browse Nearby Words

lock one's knee
lockout
lock out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lockout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockout. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lockout

noun
lock·​out -ˌau̇t How to pronounce lockout (audio)
: the stopping of work or closing of a plant by an employer during a labor dispute in order to make the employees come to terms

Legal Definition

lockout

noun
lock·​out ˈläk-ˌau̇t How to pronounce lockout (audio)
: the withholding of employment by an employer in order to gain concessions from or resist demands of employees

More from Merriam-Webster on lockout

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lockout

Nglish: Translation of lockout for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lockout

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