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
Synonyms of layoff · 1 · : a period of inactivity or idleness · 2 · : the act of laying off an employee or a workforce · also : shutdown · lay off 2 of 2 · laid off; laying off; lays off · transitive verb · 1 · : to mark or measure ...
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Layoff
Layoff - Wikipedia
October 21, 2025 - A layoff is not to be confused with wrongful termination. Laid off workers or displaced workers are workers who have lost or left their jobs because their employer has closed or moved, there was insufficient work for them to do, or their position or shift was abolished (Borbely, 2011).
temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of an employee or, more commonly, a group of employees for business reasons
Is it on accident or by accident?
The original and correct phrase is “by accident.” However, “on accident” is an error likely formed by people trying to say the opposite of “on purpose.” Although it’s a common mistake, the right way to say this phrase is “by accident.” · You can avoid this error by replacing “by accident” with “accidentally” (e.g., “I broke the lamp by accident” vs. “I broke the lamp accidentally”). Make sure not to replace it with “accidently,” as this is considered a common misspelling.
quillbot.com
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Is it layed off or laid off?
Is email hyphenated?
The word “email” doesn’t have to be hyphenated. Both “email” and “e-mail” are widely used and accepted, although “email” has become more common. · The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure your writing is free of punctuation and spelling errors.
quillbot.com
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Is it layed off or laid off?
What does accidentaly mean?
“Accidentaly” is an incorrect spelling of “accidentally,” which is an adverb that describes an action as unintentional (e.g., “I accidentally went to the wrong class”). Another common misspelling is “accidently.” · Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to ensure your writing is free of spelling errors.
quillbot.com
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Is it layed off or laid off?
Quora
quora.com › Is-it-laid-off-or-layed-off
Is it 'laid off' or 'layed off'? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): Is it "laid off" or "layed off"? It should be “laid off.” While “layed” is an increasingly popular spelling of the word, it is not technically considered to be correct.
Videos
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Improve your vocabulary/Learn American English/ fired / laid off ...
Phrasal Verbs Ep. 45 | Lay Off
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What does "Lay Off " Mean? #english #esl #languagelearning #grammar ...
01:05
"Lay off" Phrasal Verb Explained in 1 Minute - YouTube
01:01
How To Say Laid Off - YouTube
09:04
I Was Laid Off 10 Months Ago — Here's How I Still Pay My $2,800 ...
Vocabulary.com
vocabulary.com › dictionary › lay off
Lay off - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Lay off is used as a verb, while layoff is a noun: "It's shocking they decided to lay off our whole department. I didn't expect layoffs this year." ... can, dismiss, displace, fire, force out, give notice, give the axe, give the sack, sack, ...
QuillBot
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Is it layed off or laid off?
February 4, 2025 - When someone loses their job, or is made redundant, then they are laid off. “Layed” isn’t a word in standard English. Lay is an irregular verb, so it
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
Laid off vs lay off | WordReference Forums
May 24, 2020 - To me, the first one, "were laid off", makes a passive voice which means [employees were fired]. (here, "laid off" is the past participle of "to lay off") The second one, "lay off", means [employees stopped working]. (here, "lay off is the past ...
WordWeb
wordwebonline.com › en › LAYOFF
layoff, lay off, layoffs, laying off, laid off, lays off- WordWeb dictionary definition
The act of laying off an employee or a work force "The company announced a massive layoff due to economic downturn"; - redundancy [Brit, Cdn]Verb: lay off ley óf · Dismiss, usually for economic reasons "She was laid off together with hundreds of other workers when the company downsized"; ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/deloitte › whats the difference between getting fired and laid off?
r/deloitte on Reddit: Whats the difference between getting fired and laid off?
March 20, 2024 -
If you got the business update email is it just getting laid off?
Top answer 1 of 11
44
Being fired is when they fire you for a reason related to you. Being laid off is when they fire you for a reason related to them. In many cases it’s nowhere as clearly defined and being fired can be related more to them than you. Laid off is also an euphemism because no one wants to admit that they are firing talent due to incompetence in their business model practices and execution of strategy. Either way the end result is you get to experience the thrill of looking for a job
2 of 11
43
I would say fired would be performance based/issues, which is geared towards the responsibility of the employee. Laid off is leaning towards the company's responsibility/fault.
Indeed
ca.indeed.com › career guide › career development › what does laid off mean? (and how to handle layoffs)
What Does Laid Off Mean? (And How to Handle Layoffs) | Indeed.com Canada
Being laid off indicates involuntary job termination due to reasons beyond an employee's control, often as a result of company restructuring, financial constraints, or external factors like relocation.
Published May 17, 2024
Stack Exchange
english.stackexchange.com › questions › 222330 › what-is-the-proper-way-to-write-about-a-layoff
orthography - What is the proper way to write about a "layoff"? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
I suspect that "layoff" has become the most common variant in the US. Probably 30 years ago "lay-off" was more popular. But when you get to past tense, "laid off" would be my choice, and for an adjective, "laid-off".
Longman
ldoceonline.com › dictionary › lay-off
lay off | meaning of lay off in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlay off phrasal verb1 lay somebody ↔ offLEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATION to stop employing someone because there is no work for them to do → lay-off The company laid off 250 workers in December.
Corporate Finance Institute
corporatefinanceinstitute.com › home › resources › laid off
Laid Off - Definition, Reasons, and Alternatives to Layoffs
June 18, 2025 - Being laid off refers to a temporary or permanent termination of work contract by an employee because of reasons relating to the business. A company may suspend just one worker or a group of workers at the same time.
lokajittikayatray
lokajittikayatray.com › post › laid-off-or-layed-off-understanding-the-difference
Laid off or Layed off: Understanding the Difference
February 12, 2024 - On the other hand, when an individual is laid off, it typically has much more to do with things unrelated to their work quality. Layoffs usually occur because of external factors affecting a company's ability to maintain its workforce.
Canada.ca
canada.ca › en › services › jobs › workplace › federal-labour-standards › termination.html
Termination, layoff or dismissal - Canada.ca
As an employer, you may decide to lay off an employee from work for a short term with the intention to recall the employee back to work.
Indeed
indeed.com › career-advice › career-development › termination-vs-laid-off
Termination vs. Layoff: What's the Difference? | Indeed.com
Being laid off is when an employee's position is no longer needed within a company, which can happen during company downsizing or outsourcing, a business merger or acquisition or even a company relocation.
Pelago
pelagohealth.com › resources › hr-glossary › layoff
Layoff: HR Terms Explained | Pelago
A layoff is a temporary or permanent termination of employment due to a company downsizing or restructuring.
Province of British Columbia
www2.gov.bc.ca › gov › content › employment-business › employment-standards-advice › employment-standards › termination
Quitting, getting fired or laid off - Province of British Columbia
Employees should consider whether they are eligible for a job-protected leave of absence if they need to take time off work to deal with illness or life situations. Employees can quit their job at any time. If an employee quits their job, they're not paid compensation for length of employment.
Investopedia
investopedia.com › terms › l › layoff.asp
Understanding Layoffs: Definitions, Statistics, and Real-Life Example
November 23, 2003 - A layoff is an involuntary job termination, usually initiated by the employer as a cost-cutting measure. Laid-off workers can get government unemployment benefits, while those fired for cause can't.
BachelorPrint
bachelorprint.com › home › language rules › laid off or layed off – how to spell it correctly
Laid Off Or Layed Off ~ How To Spell It Correctly
“Laid off” functions as a phrasal verb in English and is the past tense of the word “to lay”. It’s used to describe a situation where someone has lost their employment, typically due to reasons beyond their control (e.g., company ...
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.