Layoff

Pronunciation varies by accent · noun

Meaning

(chiefly US) A dismissal of employees from their jobs because of tightened budgetary constraints or work shortage (not due to poor performance or misconduct)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly US) A dismissal of employees from their jobs because of tightened budgetary constraints or work shortage (not due to poor performance or misconduct).
2. A period of time when someone is unavailable for work.
3. (British, soccer) A short pass that has been rolled in front of another player for them to kick.
4. A bet that is laid off, i.e. placed with another bookmaker in order to reduce risk.

Example Sentences

One of the muscles on the point of the shoulder was torn loose and it didn't need more than a glance to see that Mr. Hickey was in for a long lay-off. He wouldn't pitch again for quite a spell, if ever;

But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool

After a ten-month layoff, during which extensive testing had taken place in conjunction with AEI, the 'Blue Trains' resumed full operation on October 2 1961, [...].

At tech companies that spent recent years expanding paid parental leave, parents have felt the whiplash of mass layoffs in an especially visceral way.

Synonyms for layoff

Antonyms for layoff

Related Words

Word Forms

• layoffs
• lay-off

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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