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layoff
/ˈleɪˌɒf/
temporary or permanent termination of employment
The company announced layoffs due to financial difficulties.
The company terminated employees because of money problems.
Business
Business
The act of dismissing employees, often due to economic downturns or restructuring.
Mass layoffs occurred during the economic recession.
Many people lost their jobs when the economy was bad.
The tech startup conducted layoffs to reduce costs.
The new company fired employees to save money.
Layoffs are often temporary, but can become permanent if the company does not recover.
Collocations
mass layoffslarge-scale termination of employeesvoluntary layoffemployees choose to leave with benefits
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Use 'layoff' in formal business contexts. 'Fired' is more casual and implies fault.
Gold Rule
Neutral Term
Layoffs are usually due to business reasons, not employee performance.
Word Origin
From 'lay off' (to put aside), first used in the 19th century to describe temporary work stoppages.
Usage Notes
Layoffs are often temporary, but can become permanent if the company does not recover. The term is neutral, unlike 'firing,' which implies wrongdoing.
Word Breakdown
lay
to put aside or stop
rootoff
discontinuation
suffixEnglish Dictionary