lockup

noun

lock·​up ˈläk-ˌəp How to pronounce lockup (audio)
Synonyms of lockupnext
1
: jail
especially : a local jail where persons are detained prior to court hearing
2
: an act of locking : the state of being locked

Synonyms of lockup

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Examples of lockup in a Sentence

the firm conviction that juvenile offenders should never be held in adult lockups
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Analysts are predicting volatility for the stock as lockup periods end and people sell shares. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026 That demand, combined with its low float — as lockups keep insiders from selling shares for months — could put upward pressure on SpaceX shares. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 Most company insiders who own shares of stock as part of their compensation aren’t allowed to sell for a period of time, called the lockup, after the IPO. — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 At least 20% of the shares will be released after second-quarter results are disclosed sometime in the coming months, with all the lockups expiring in December. — Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lockup

Word History

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lockup was in 1746

Rhymes for lockup

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Browse Nearby Words

lock turtle
lockup
lock washer
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Cite this Entry

“Lockup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockup. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Legal Definition

lockup

noun
lock·​up
1
: a cell or group of cells (as in a courthouse) or jail where persons are held prior to a court hearing compare house of correction, house of detention, jail, penitentiary, prison
2
: the tactic of arranging with a friendly party an option to buy a valuable portion of one's corporate assets in order to discourage a takeover by another party

More from Merriam-Webster on lockup

Nglish: Translation of lockup for Spanish Speakers

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