Layoff Meaning
/lˈeɪˌɔf/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA dismissal of employees from their jobs because of tightened budgetary constraints or work shortage (not due to poor performance or misconduct).
nounA period of time when someone is unavailable for work.
Sentence Examples
Research in Motion announced the layoff of 2000 employees and a restructuring of the company.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The company announced a massive ____ due to falling profits this year.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many workers were worried about a potential ____ after the company announced a major restructuring plan tonight.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English lay offdeverb. English layoff Deverbal from lay off.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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;"
— 1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post:
"But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool"
— 2010 December 29, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 16 Mar 2017:
"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, [...]."
— 2021 July 28, Ben Jones, “When BR got cracking after withdrawal of 'Blue Trains'”, in RAIL, number 932, page 32:
"At tech companies that spent recent years expanding paid parental leave, parents have felt the whiplash of mass layoffs in an especially visceral way."
— 2023 April 11, Kurtis Lee, “California Economy Is on Edge After Tech Layoffs and Studio Cutbacks”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 19 Apr 2023:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The company announced a massive ____ due to falling profits this year.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many workers were worried about a potential ____ after the company announced a major restructuring plan tonight.