holdout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “holdout” mean?
A person, organization, or country that refuses to agree, participate, or comply, often by maintaining a separate or resistant position.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, organization, or country that refuses to agree, participate, or comply, often by maintaining a separate or resistant position.
An act or instance of resisting or withholding something; in sports, a player who refuses to play under their current contract; in computing/technology, a device or component that remains in use when newer versions are available; in card games, a specific strategy of keeping certain cards.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun form 'holdout' is used in both varieties. The related phrasal verb is 'hold out' (two words). No significant spelling or usage divergence.
Connotations
In both, it often implies a last bastion of resistance. In American business/sports contexts, it is a standard term for a contract dispute.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its common use in sports and business journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “holdout” in a Sentence
[holdout] against [something][holdout] from [a group/agreement]the last [holdout] to [verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holdout” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The holdout nations faced increased diplomatic pressure.
- A few holdout members disrupted the consensus.
American English
- The holdout states eventually ratified the amendment.
- Negotiations with the holdout player continued for weeks.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A company that refuses to join a merger or adopt an industry standard.
Academic
A scholar who maintains a dissenting theoretical viewpoint.
Everyday
The only person in a group who doesn't want to order pizza.
Technical
Legacy software that remains in use because upgrading is too costly.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holdout”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holdout”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holdout”
- Using 'holdout' as a verb (correct verb is 'hold out').
- Confusing 'holdout' with 'hold-up' (which is a delay or robbery).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning 'a person or thing that holds out', it is one word: 'holdout'. The verb phrase is two words: 'hold out' (e.g., 'They will hold out for a better offer').
Yes, it can imply admirable principle or independence, as in 'She was a courageous holdout against the popular but unethical policy'.
A 'holdout' is a state of refusal or the entity refusing, often as an individual stance. A 'boycott' is an organized, active refusal to engage or purchase, typically as a protest.
Yes, it is used and understood, though some specific contexts like 'contract holdout' in sports are more prevalent in American media.
A person, organization, or country that refuses to agree, participate, or comply, often by maintaining a separate or resistant position.
Holdout is usually formal to neutral in register.
Holdout: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊldaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊldaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The last holdout (the final person/group to resist change)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone HOLDing their arms OUT, blocking a doorway, refusing to let others pass. They are a HOLDOUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESISTANCE IS HOLDING A POSITION / AGREEMENT IS A PHYSICAL CONTAINER (being 'in' or 'out').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, a 'holdout' most commonly refers to: