layoff
/lā′ôf″, -ŏf″/
noun
- A dismissal of employees from their jobs because of tightened budgetary constraints or work shortage (not due to poor performance or misconduct).
- A period of time when someone is unavailable for work.
- (UK, soccer) A short pass that has been rolled in front of another player for them to kick.
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › layoff
LAYOFF Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
1 week ago - The meaning of LAYOFF is a period of inactivity or idleness. How to use layoff in a sentence.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Layoff
Layoff - Wikipedia
October 21, 2025 - A layoff or downsizing is the temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of an employee or, more commonly, a group of employees (collective layoff) for business reasons, such as personnel management or downsizing an organization. Originally, layoff referred exclusively to a ...
temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of an employee or, more commonly, a group of employees for business reasons
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › layoff
LAYOFF | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
LAYOFF meaning: 1. an occasion when a company stops employing someone, sometimes temporarily, because the company…. Learn more.
Videos
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How To Bounce Back Stronger Than Ever After A Layoff! - YouTube
TalentHR
talenthr.io › resources › hr-glossary › layoff
What is a Layoff? - HR Glossary | TalentHR
Unlike being fired, which results from performance or behavioral issues, layoffs happen when a business finds it necessary to reduce its workforce for reasons beyond an individual’s control. For affected employees, a layoff can mean either a temporary or permanent separation from the company.
Indeed
indeed.com › career-advice › career-development › termination-vs-laid-off
Termination vs. Layoff: What's the Difference? | Indeed.com
2 weeks ago - A termination and layoff both signify the end of employment, but the former is based on employee performance and the latter has to do with a change in business direction. In this article, we share what it means to be terminated or laid off and how each can affect your job search.Key takeaways:
AllVoices
allvoices.co › glossary › layoff
What is a Layoff? Definition and Explanation | AllVoices
Learn what a Layoff is. Termination of employees due to business reasons.
Career Connections
careerconnections.twu.edu › blog › 2020 › 03 › 24 › laid-off-this-is-what-it-means-and-what-to-do
Laid Off? This is What it Means and What to Do – Career Connections | Texas Woman's University
March 24, 2020 - If you have been laid off or worry ... to get back on your feet. A layoff is an involuntary separation between an employer and an employee that occurs through no fault of the employee....
Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › layoff
LAYOFF Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
3 weeks ago - LAYOFF definition: the act of dismissing employees, especially temporarily. See examples of layoff used in a sentence.
Darwinbox
explore.darwinbox.com › hr-glossary › layoff
What is Layoff? | Meaning & Definition | HR Glossary
A layoff is the suspension or permanent termination of employment of workers by their employer. A layoff does not occur because workers did something wrong.
University of Washington
hr.uw.edu › home › ending employment › layoff › layoffs and reduction for staff
Layoffs and reduction for staff - HR Operations
May 15, 2025 - For regular classified non-union and contract covered staff, layoff is the elimination of a position, the reduction of a position’s percent FTE, or a reduction in the number of months the position works annually due to a lack of work, a lack of funds and/or because of a reorganization.
Citizens Information
citizensinformation.ie › en › employment › unemployment-and-redundancy › redundancy › lay-off-short-time-working-and-redundancy
Lay-off, short-time working and redundancy
May 16, 2025 - If your employer has no work available for you, or less work available than usual, you may be put on a lay off or short time working arrangement.
U.S. Department of Labor
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The Law Dictionary
thelawdictionary.org › the law dictionary › finance dictionary
LAYOFF Definition & Meaning - Black's Law Dictionary
October 19, 2012 - Find the legal definition of LAYOFF from Black's Law Dictionary, 2nd Edition. Employment suspension or termination with or without notice due to no fault of the employee. Lack of work, cash, or material can be the reason. Redundancy...
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english › lay-off
LAY OFF definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
7 meanings: 1. to dismiss (workers) from employment, sometimes with the intention of re-employing them at a later date 2..... Click for more definitions.
Investopedia
investopedia.com › terms › l › layoff.asp
Understanding Layoffs: Definitions, Statistics, and Real-Life Example
November 23, 2003 - A layoff is the involuntary termination of an employee's job, typically for reasons unrelated to the employee's performance, such as cost-cutting or organizational changes.
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english › lay-off_1
lay off phrasal verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
Definition of lay off phrasal verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Recruiteze
recruiteze.com › home › layoff
Layoff – Definition, Overview & FAQ | Recruiteze
January 11, 2024 - Definition: A layoff is a temporary or permanent termination of employment initiated by the employer primarily due to organizational reasons rather than individual performance.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › layoff
Layoff Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
LAYOFF meaning: 1 : the act of ending the employment of a worker or group of workers; 2 : a period of time during which there is no activity
Graphite HRM
graphitehrm.com › blog › employer’s guide to lay-off in ireland
Employer’s guide to lay-off in Ireland - Graphite HRM
August 19, 2024 - If the alternative to foregoing pay is redundancy, however, the employees may agree to a temporary period of lay-off if it means it will save their jobs.
Careerminds
careerminds.com › home › blog › layoffs › rif vs. layoff: know the difference
RIF vs Layoff: Know the Difference | Careerminds
June 26, 2025 - We often see the terms reduction in force (RIF) and layoff being thrown around to describe the same thing: someone losing their job. But no matter how frequently you see these terms being interchanged, they are not the same. This is a common issue that we refer to as the RIF vs.