sickout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to Medium in business/labour contexts; very low in general use.Formal, journalistic, business, labor/industrial relations.
Quick answer
What does “sickout” mean?
A coordinated refusal to work, typically by a group of workers calling in sick simultaneously as a form of protest or industrial action.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A coordinated refusal to work, typically by a group of workers calling in sick simultaneously as a form of protest or industrial action.
Any organized group absence under the pretence of illness, often to circumvent legal restrictions on strikes or to exert pressure on employers without formally declaring a strike. Can be used metaphorically for group absenteeism in other contexts (e.g., students).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more commonly attested in American English reporting on labour disputes. In the UK, 'industrial action' or 'unofficial strike' are more frequent umbrella terms.
Connotations
Same core meaning in both, carrying connotations of subversion, collective action, and potential dishonesty.
Frequency
More frequent in American media. In the UK, specific reporting might use the term, but it is not a standard part of everyday vocabulary.
Grammar
How to Use “sickout” in a Sentence
The [WORKERS] staged a sickout over [ISSUE].A sickout by [GROUP] disrupted [SERVICE].Management condemned the sickout as [NEGATIVE TERM].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sickout” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The union is alleged to have sickouted last month.
- To sickout is a risky strategy for workers.
American English
- The pilots threatened to sickout if demands weren't met.
- The staff sickouted for three days.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use.)
adjective
British English
- Sickout action is illegal under current legislation.
- The sickout tactic proved effective.
American English
- The sickout protest grounded dozens of flights.
- We're investigating the sickout allegations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR and management discussions concerning labour relations, morale, and unauthorized absences.
Academic
Used in sociology, industrial relations, and political science papers analysing labour tactics.
Everyday
Rare. Might be encountered in news reports about transport or public service disruptions.
Technical
A specific term in labour law and industrial relations denoting a particular tactic.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sickout”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sickout”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sickout”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They sickouted yesterday' – non-standard).
- Confusing it with a general outbreak of illness in a workplace.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A strike is a formally declared cessation of work. A sickout is an unofficial, coordinated action where participants pretend to be ill, often to avoid legal penalties for striking.
Potentially, yes. Because it involves deception (feigning illness) and is often an unauthorised disruption, participants can face disciplinary action, including dismissal, depending on local labour laws and employment contracts.
They are the same tactic. 'Blue flu' is a specific colloquial term for a sickout conducted by police officers (referencing their 'blue' uniforms). Other sectors have similar terms (e.g., 'white flu' for nurses).
It is a recognised term in journalism and industrial relations, but it originates as informal slang. It has gained enough currency to be used in formal reporting and analysis of labour disputes.
A coordinated refusal to work, typically by a group of workers calling in sick simultaneously as a form of protest or industrial action.
Sickout: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪk.aʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪkˌaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Pulling a sickout' (less common).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Workers are SICK of the situation, so they OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLNESS AS PROTEST (feigning a physical malady to express a social/political malady).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'sickout'?