laid off

9 synonyms and 3 antonyms for laid off, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

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

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

cut quit stopped

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

made redundant let go downsized released given up eased off

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.”

made redundant let go downsized cut released

Opposites

hired taken on reinstated

2. verb informal

Stopped doing something, especially something regarded as excessive or unwelcome.

“I laid off caffeine for a month and slept much better.”

quit given up eased off stopped

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.

People also searched

cut stopped quit

Nearby words

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