# lockout

/ˈɫɑˌkaʊt/ (US) · /lˈɒkaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lockout
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. labor dispute

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where an employer stops workers from entering their workplace during a disagreement about pay or conditions.

For teachers: an industrial action in which management prevents employees from working, typically to gain leverage during collective bargaining.

- The factory owners started a lockout after the union rejected the new contract.
- The professional basketball season was delayed by a three-month lockout as owners and players struggled to agree on revenue sharing.

Usage: Often contrasted with a strike, where the workers choose to stop working.

### 2. being locked out

noun · CEFR B1

the state of being unable to get into a building or room because the door is locked and you do not have a key.

For teachers: the condition of being excluded from a premises, often due to lost keys or a change in security codes.

- I had to call a locksmith after a late-night lockout at my apartment.
- To prevent accidental lockouts, the hotel uses smart cards that automatically deactivate if the guest reports them missing.

### 3. computing/security

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a security feature that stops you from trying to log in after too many wrong passwords.

For teachers: a security mechanism that denies access to a system or account after a specified number of failed authentication attempts.

- I triggered a thirty-minute lockout because I forgot my new banking password.
- The administrator configured a temporary lockout policy to mitigate the risk of brute-force attacks on the company's servers.

### 4. safety procedure

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a safety system that keeps a machine turned off while someone is fixing it.

For teachers: a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not started up again prior to the completion of maintenance.

- The technician followed the lockout procedure before opening the electrical panel.
- Failure to adhere to the strict lockout-tagout protocols resulted in a significant safety violation during the refinery inspection.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'lockout-tagout' (LOTO).

### 5. weightlifting

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the final part of a lift where your arms or legs are fully straight.

For teachers: the completion phase of a heavy lift where the joints are fully extended and the weight is stabilized.

- He struggled with the lockout on his final bench press attempt.
- The athlete incorporated partial repetitions into his training to improve his strength during the lockout phase of the deadlift.

## Examples

- The factory lockout lasted for three weeks.
- After the union rejected the final offer, management initiated a lockout, preventing hundreds of workers from entering the facility.
- The protracted lockout severely damaged the local economy, as thousands of skilled labourers were unable to earn wages while the corporation refused to reopen the plant without significant concessions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.