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noun

furlough

FUR-loh

Furlough (noun) means an authorized leave of absence, especially for military personnel or employees. Example: “The soldier used his furlough to visit his family before deployment.”

noun
1
An authorized leave of absence, especially for military personnel or employees.
"The soldier used his furlough to visit his family before deployment."
"Thousands of workers were placed on furlough during the shutdown."
verb
1
To place an employee on temporary unpaid leave, often to cut costs.
"The airline furloughed hundreds of staff during the slowdown."

How to use furlough

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA temporary, often unpaid, leave from work or duty, or the act of putting someone on that leave.

Common pairings
on furlough furlough scheme furloughed workers

Word forms

furloughed past tense, furloughs plural, Furloughs plural, furloughs singular

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The soldier used his _____ to visit his family before deployment.

Etymology

From Dutch verlof ("furlough, permission"), related to German Verlaub — ultimately the same root family as the English word "leave."

Origin: German

lay off

Related words

Rhymes for furlough

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Frequently asked questions

What does “furlough” mean?

The word “furlough” means an authorized leave of absence, especially for military personnel or employees. In plain terms, a temporary, often unpaid, leave from work or duty, or the act of putting someone on that leave.

How do you pronounce “furlough”?

“Furlough” is pronounced FUR-loh (/ˈfɝ.loʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “furlough” in a sentence?

Here is “furlough” used in a sentence: “The soldier used his furlough to visit his family before deployment.”

What part of speech is “furlough”?

Depending on how it is used, “furlough” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “furlough” come from?

The word “furlough” comes from German. From Dutch verlof ("furlough, permission"), related to German Verlaub — ultimately the same root family as the English word "leave.".

How many meanings does “furlough” have?

“Furlough” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an authorized leave of absence, especially for military personnel or employees.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial