closed season: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Legal, Technical (in specific domains), Journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “closed season” mean?
A legally fixed period of the year when it is forbidden to kill or catch certain game animals, birds, or fish.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legally fixed period of the year when it is forbidden to kill or catch certain game animals, birds, or fish.
1. A period during which an activity is officially prohibited or suspended. 2. In sports (e.g., American football), the period of the year when teams are not allowed to sign players or make certain transactions. 3. Figuratively, a period of inactivity or prohibition in any field.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'close season' (without 'd') is the standard spelling for the hunting/fishing sense. In the US, 'closed season' (with 'd') is standard. The American football transactional period is exclusively a US concept.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with countryside management and conservation. US: Broader application, including sports business and figurative uses.
Frequency
More frequent in US English due to wider metaphorical application and sports usage. In UK English, it's primarily a specialist/hunting term.
Grammar
How to Use “closed season” in a Sentence
closed season for + [animal/fish type]closed season on + [activity]closed season in + [location]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “closed season” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The river is closed to salmon fishing from October to January.
- They close the moor to grouse shooting in spring.
American English
- The state closed the season for bass early this year.
- Authorities are closing the season on deer due to population concerns.
adverb
British English
- N/A – Not standard adverbial use.
American English
- N/A – Not standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- He was fined for fishing in a close-season area.
- The close-season restrictions are clearly posted.
American English
- They discussed the closed-season rules at the meeting.
- A closed-season violation can lead to a heavy penalty.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to periods when financial trading of certain commodities (e.g., agricultural futures) is suspended.
Academic
Used in environmental science and wildlife management papers.
Everyday
Discussions about fishing trips, hunting plans, or sports news (US).
Technical
A defined regulatory term in fisheries and game laws.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “closed season”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “closed season”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “closed season”
- Using 'close season' in US contexts. Confusing with 'off-season' (which implies inactivity but not necessarily a legal prohibition). Using it for any pause without a regulatory element.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, it's 'closed season'. In British English, the hunting/fishing term is traditionally 'close season', though 'closed season' is understood. For other uses, 'closed season' is common in both.
Yes, especially in American English. For example, 'After the scandal, there was a closed season on interviews with the CEO' means a period when such interviews were not allowed.
The direct opposite is 'open season'. This also has a metaphorical meaning (e.g., 'It's open season on critics' means critics are being freely attacked).
Not exactly. 'Off-season' is a general term for a period of low activity (e.g., for tourism). 'Closed season' specifically implies a formal prohibition, often legal. All closed seasons are off-seasons for that activity, but not all off-seasons are closed seasons.
A legally fixed period of the year when it is forbidden to kill or catch certain game animals, birds, or fish.
Closed season is usually formal, legal, technical (in specific domains), journalistic. in register.
Closed season: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkləʊzd ˈsiːzn̩/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkloʊzd ˈsiːzn̩/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's open season on... (antithetical idiom)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a shop with a CLOSED sign on the door during a specific SEASON of the year. No 'shopping' for animals allowed.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (the season is 'closed' for access). REGULATION IS A BARRIER.
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY meaning of 'closed season'?