noun

layoff

/ˈleɪɔf/ · say it: LAY·awf

dismissing employees for business, not performance, reasons

In Business & Marketing

In more detail

1. (noun) a temporary or permanent loss of a job, when a company reduces the number of workers

2. (noun) a period of time when someone stops an activity or takes a break from something

Examples

1. The factory announced layoffs due to decreased demand for their products.
2. After months of intense training, the athletes were given a week's layoff to rest.

How to use layoff

Layoff primarily refers to the loss of employment due to company restructuring or economic conditions, rather than individual performance issues. It can also informally mean a break from activity. The term is neutral in tone but often carries negative connotations when referring to job loss. In the second sense (taking a break), it is more casual and less common than 'break' or 'rest'.

Common phrases

mass layoff
layoff notice
face a layoff
threaten layoffs
announce layoffs
avoid layoffs

Synonyms

dismissal · redundancy · termination · furlough · retrenchment

Opposites

hiring · recruitment · employment

Word family

lay off (phrasal verb) · laid off (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse layoff with 'lay off' (the phrasal verb). A layoff is the noun; to lay someone off is the verb. Also, avoid using 'layoff' for dismissal due to misconduct, which would be more properly called 'termination' or 'firing'.

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