lockout
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a situation where an employer stops workers from entering their workplace during a disagreement about pay or conditions.
an industrial action in which management prevents employees from working, typically to gain leverage during collective bargaining.
Simple“The factory owners started a lockout after the union rejected the new contract.”
In context“The professional basketball season was delayed by a three-month lockout as owners and players struggled to agree on revenue sharing.”
UsageOften contrasted with a strike, where the workers choose to stop working.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
the state of being unable to get into a building or room because the door is locked and you do not have a key.
the condition of being excluded from a premises, often due to lost keys or a change in security codes.
Simple“I had to call a locksmith after a late-night lockout at my apartment.”
In context“To prevent accidental lockouts, the hotel uses smart cards that automatically deactivate if the guest reports them missing.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a security feature that stops you from trying to log in after too many wrong passwords.
a security mechanism that denies access to a system or account after a specified number of failed authentication attempts.
Simple“I triggered a thirty-minute lockout because I forgot my new banking password.”
In context“The administrator configured a temporary lockout policy to mitigate the risk of brute-force attacks on the company's servers.”
Synonymsaccount freezeblock - 04 C1 Advanced
a safety system that keeps a machine turned off while someone is fixing it.
a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not started up again prior to the completion of maintenance.
Simple“The technician followed the lockout procedure before opening the electrical panel.”
In context“Failure to adhere to the strict lockout-tagout protocols resulted in a significant safety violation during the refinery inspection.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'lockout-tagout' (LOTO).
Synonymstagoutisolation - 05 C1 Advanced
the final part of a lift where your arms or legs are fully straight.
the completion phase of a heavy lift where the joints are fully extended and the weight is stabilized.
Simple“He struggled with the lockout on his final bench press attempt.”
In context“The athlete incorporated partial repetitions into his training to improve his strength during the lockout phase of the deadlift.”
Synonyms
“The details included the “precaution,” he said, of a hefty upfront signing bonus that, unlike the salary, gets paid despite lockouts or buyouts.”
Deverbal from lock out.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.