1
: a period of inactivity or idleness
2
: the act of laying off an employee or a workforce
also
: shutdown
laid off; laying off; lays off
1
: to mark or measure off
2
: to cease to employ (a worker) often temporarily
3
of a bookie
: to place all or part of (an accepted bet) with another bookie to reduce the risk
1
: to stop doing or taking something
2
: to leave one alone
wish you'd just lay off
Examples of layoff in a Sentence
Noun
The company announced the layoff of several hundred employees.
More layoffs are expected at the factory later this year.
The band finally has a new album after a three year layoff.
a layoff of three years
Verb
you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Spiggle, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The mass federal layoffs were challenged by a group of unions, non-profits and local governments who argued the administration can't make such sweeping changes without Congress.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
On Friday, the State Department laid off the personnel in the department that helps place those refugees and other allies in the United States.
—CBS News, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
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Noun
Justice Sonia Sotomayor concurred with the majority but noted that the lower courts are still responsible for determining whether the layoffs comply with the law.
—Tom Spiggle, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The mass federal layoffs were challenged by a group of unions, non-profits and local governments who argued the administration can't make such sweeping changes without Congress.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 9 July 2025
Verb
In all 546 employees will be temporarily laid off in Mount Holly, with 27 affected at Daimler’s components and logistics site in Gastonia, Daimler Truck North America spokesman Andrew Johnson told The Charlotte Observer on Monday.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
On Friday, the State Department laid off the personnel in the department that helps place those refugees and other allies in the United States.
—CBS News, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for layoff
Cite this Entry
“Layoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/layoff. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
layoff
1 of 2 noun
lay·off
ˈlā-ˌȯf 
1
: the act of laying off an employee or a work force
2
: a period during which there is no activity
lay off
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)lā-ˈȯf
1
: to mark or measure off
2
: to stop employing (a person) often temporarily
lay off workers
3
: to stop doing or taking something
lay off of that stuff
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