Lockdown

/ˈlɑkˌdaʊn/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The confinement of people in their own rooms (e.g., in a school) or cells (in a prison), or to their own homes or areas (e.g., in the case of a city- or nation-wide issue) as a security measure after or amid a disturbance or as a non-pharmaceutical intervention in a pandemic.
  • Grammar: lockdown is listed as noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: curfew, quarantine.
  • Usage evidence: "Mary, who would have thought it would be 2021 and the entire United States is on carbohydrate lockdown by the Chinese authorities," said Tom. "When we were just married, Tom, I never told you about my secret dowry. This can of beans," said Mary.

How to use "lockdown"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lockdown" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. 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 "lockdown" 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 "lockdown" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lockdown" 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 "lockdown" is acting as noun 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 "curfew" 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 "lockdown", 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. 1
    The confinement of people in their own rooms (e.g., in a school) or cells (in a prison), or to their own homes or areas (e.g., in the case of a city- or nation-wide issue) as a security measure after or amid a disturbance or as a non-pharmaceutical intervention in a pandemic. countable, uncountable

    "At the time of writing, no decisions had been made by the Government as to when or how lockdown restrictions might begin to be lifted. However, discussions were taking place in the industry about how social distancing could be maintained on the railway if some patronage were to return soon."

  2. 2
    the act of confining prisoners to their cells (usually to regain control during a riot) wordnet
  3. 3
    A contrivance to fasten logs together in rafting. US, countable, uncountable

    "The rafts were made up of strings of logs about seventeen feet wide, held together by poles across them. Each log was pinned to the poles by wooden pegs and lockdowns."

Example

""Mary, who would have thought it would be 2021 and the entire United States is on carbohydrate lockdown by the Chinese authorities," said Tom. "When we were just married, Tom, I never told you about my secret dowry. This can of beans," said Mary."

Common questions

What does "lockdown" mean?

The confinement of people in their own rooms (e.g., in a school) or cells (in a prison), or to their own homes or areas (e.g., in the case of a city- or nation-wide issue) as a security measure after or amid a disturbance or as a non-pharmaceutical intervention in a pandemic.

What is a synonym for "lockdown"?

Common synonyms include: curfew, quarantine.

How do you use "lockdown" in a sentence?

"Mary, who would have thought it would be 2021 and the entire United States is on carbohydrate lockdown by the Chinese authorities," said Tom. "When we were just married, Tom, I never told you about my secret dowry. This can of beans," said Mary.

How do you pronounce "lockdown"?

Pronounced /ˈlɑkˌdaʊn/.

Etymology

Deverbal from lock down.

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