lockout
B2Formal, Technical, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
An event in which employers deny workers access to the workplace as a tactic during a labour dispute.
A general state of being excluded or prevented from entering a place or accessing a system, often as a security measure or due to a fault.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun. In its core labour sense, it's the employer's equivalent to a worker's strike. The extended meaning, especially in computing/security (e.g., account lockout), is now very common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is consistent. Usage in industrial relations is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with industrial action and conflict in both varieties. The computing/security sense is neutral-technical.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English news due to greater reporting on sports (e.g., NHL lockout) and some labour disputes.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The company imposed a lockout ON the union members.The workers faced a lockout FOR refusing the new terms.A lockout OF the employees began last week.To be IN a lockout.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Locked out (adj): excluded or prevented from entering.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a management tactic in industrial disputes to pressure unions.
Academic
Used in economics, sociology, and industrial relations papers analysing labour markets.
Everyday
Less common. Might be used for being physically locked out of a house/car, though 'locked out' is more typical.
Technical
Common in IT/security: 'account lockout policy' after failed login attempts; in engineering: a safety procedure (lockout-tagout).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The owner may lock out the staff if negotiations fail.
American English
- The league threatened to lock out the players before the season.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form for 'lockout'. Use 'by locking out' or similar.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form for 'lockout'. Use 'by locking out' or similar.)
adjective
British English
- The lockout period for the new investment is six months.
American English
- They implemented a new lockout policy for failed login attempts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can't get in! I think I have a lockout from my email.
- The factory lockout lasted for two weeks and many workers lost pay.
- After the failed negotiations, management imposed a lockout, preventing all union members from entering the site.
- The protracted lockout, a strategic manoeuvre by the owners, was designed to break the union's resolve and force acceptance of the new contract terms.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a factory owner with a giant padLOCK, locking workers OUT to pressure them.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFLICT IS WAR (management's weapon in the labour war). ACCESS IS A GATE/D00R (the gate is locked).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'локаут' (a direct borrowing, correct). Avoid translating as 'забастовка' (strike) – they are opposites in labour context. 'Блокировка' is better for the computing sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lockout' to mean a strike (e.g., *'The workers announced a lockout'* – incorrect). Confusing noun 'lockout' with phrasal verb 'lock out' (e.g., 'They will lock out the workers').
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'lockout' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are opposites in labour relations. A strike is action by employees who refuse to work. A lockout is action by employers who refuse to let employees work.
Yes, commonly in IT security (account lockout) and safety procedures (lockout-tagout in engineering). Informally, it can mean being physically locked out of a place.
The verb is the phrasal verb 'to lock out'. (e.g., 'The system will lock you out after five attempts.')
A specific safety procedure in industry where energy sources are physically locked and tagged to prevent accidental activation during maintenance.