laid off
3 antonyms for laid off — opposites grouped by meaning.
Verb — Dismissed from a job because the employer no longer has the work or the money for the role, rather than because of anything the worker did wrong.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
Dismissed from a job because the employer no longer has the work or the money for the role, rather than because of anything the worker did wrong.
“She was laid off in January when the studio cut a third of its staff.”
Opposites
hired
taken on
reinstated
Antonyms
hired
taken on
reinstated
How to use laid off
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
get laid off
laid off workers
mass layoffs
laid off without notice
lay off staff
Standard in American English for what British English calls being made redundant. The base form is lay off; the noun is a layoff.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between being laid off and being fired?
Being laid off means the position was eliminated for business reasons and the decision was not about your performance. Being fired means you were dismissed for cause, such as misconduct or poor results. The distinction matters for references and, in many places, for unemployment benefits.
What is the difference between laid off and furloughed?
A layoff ends the employment relationship. A furlough is a temporary unpaid pause with the expectation that you will return, and staff often keep benefits such as health cover during it.
Is laid off the same as being made redundant?
Broadly yes — redundancy is the British term for the same situation. British redundancy law also carries specific consultation duties and statutory payments that the American term does not imply.
