What does "furlough" mean?
A leave of absence or vacation.; Especially one granted to a member of the armed forces, or to a prisoner.
Furlough
/ˈfɜː.ləʊ/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A leave of absence or vacation.; Especially one granted to a member of the armed forces, or to a prisoner.
- Grammar: furlough is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: abscondence, absence, absence, absence policy.
- Useful contrasts: active duty, continue work, employ.
- Usage evidence: The soldier returned home on a furlough.
How to use "furlough"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "furlough" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "furlough" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "furlough" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "furlough" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "furlough" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abscondence" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "furlough", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A leave of absence or vacation.; Especially one granted to a member of the armed forces, or to a prisoner. US, countable, uncountable
"And I had a lot of things on my mind and I pretty well forgot my promise to Mama until I got shipped home on a special furlough for her funeral."
- 2 a temporary leave of absence from military duty wordnet
- 3 A leave of absence or vacation.; Especially one granted to a missionary. British, countable, uncountable
- 4 The documents authorizing such leave. countable, uncountable
- 5 A period of unpaid time off, used by an employer to reduce costs. countable, uncountable
"The state estimates the one-day-a-month furlough spread over the 18 months of the plan would amount to a 5 percent cut in pay."
Verb
- 1 To grant a furlough to (someone). transitive
- 2 grant a leave to wordnet
- 3 To have (an employee) not work in order to reduce costs; to send (someone) on furlough. transitive
"This implies, for example, that firms should not revise their estimated production capacity downwards when furloughing workers, but should do so after laying off staff permanently."
- 4 dismiss, usually for economic reasons wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The soldier returned home on a furlough."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "furlough"?
Common synonyms include: abscondence, absence, absence, absence policy, absence without leave, absentation.
How do you use "furlough" in a sentence?
The soldier returned home on a furlough.
How do you pronounce "furlough"?
Pronounced /ˈfɜː.ləʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Dutch verlof (“furlough”), probably from Middle Low German verlōf (“furlough, permission”) (possibly via German Verlaub), from the verb verlōven (“to allow”), from Old Saxon far- + lōvian (“to trust, believe”). From Middle Low German also German Verlaub, Danish forlov. Doublet of leave.
Etymology 2
English surname, probably a variant of Farlow.