How do you use the word "furlough" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "furlough": The corporal is on furlough. The soldier returned home on a furlough.

Furlough Meaning

/ˈfɜː.ləʊ/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA leave of absence or vacation.

nounA leave of absence or vacation., Especially one granted to a member of the armed forces, or to a prisoner.

Sentence Examples

The corporal is on furlough.

The soldier returned home on a furlough.

CEFR Practice Quiz

Due to budget cuts, the workers were given a ____ without pay.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Due to the economic downturn, several factory workers were placed on permanent ____ until further notice.

Word Origin & History

From Dutch verlof (“furlough”), probably from Middle Low German verlōf (“furlough, permission”) (possibly via German Verlaub), from the verb verlōven (“to allow”), from Old Saxon far- + lōvian (“to trust, believe”). From Middle Low German also German Verlaub, Danish forlov. Doublet of leave.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"And I had a lot of things on my mind and I pretty well forgot my promise to Mama until I got shipped home on a special furlough for her funeral." — 1957, James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues”, in Going to Meet the Man, Dial, published 1965:

"The state estimates the one-day-a-month furlough spread over the 18 months of the plan would amount to a 5 percent cut in pay." — 2008 November 7, Jon Ortiz, “State workers rip Schwarzenegger's job furlough plan”, in The Sacramento Bee:

"This implies, for example, that firms should not revise their estimated production capacity downwards when furloughing workers, but should do so after laying off staff permanently." — 2025 January 26, Niklas Amberg, Richard Friberg, Chad Syverson, “Have We Got News For You: Firm-Level Evidence on the Optimal Choice of Expected Capacity Utilization”, in NBER Working Papers, number 33400, page 4:

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