Word
Definition
n. a period of time when an employee is not working because their company has no work for them. It is usually a temporary situation.
n. a period of time during which an employee is not working, typically due to a lack of available work or economic downturn. Often used in the plural to describe a company-wide reduction in workforce.
Examples
“The factory workers are on a three-week layoff.”
“After the merger, many employees faced a temporary layoff while the new management structure was finalized.”
“The seasonal nature of the tourism industry means that many hospitality staff are accustomed to a layoff during the winter months when visitor numbers drop significantly.”
Examples
simple
“The factory workers are on a three-week layoff.”
contextual
“After the merger, many employees faced a temporary layoff while the new management structure was finalized.”
complex
“The seasonal nature of the tourism industry means that many hospitality staff are accustomed to a layoff during the winter months when visitor numbers drop significantly.”
Real-World Examples
“Adults may stop participating in a program because of a work layoff or a new baby, then start again after months or years, then move across town and go to another program.” “Yet when we examined stock market reactions to these layoff announcements, the average return was close to zero.” Etymology
Deverbal from lay off.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/layoff
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0