Definition

1. Noun:

   • A temporary leave of absence from work, especially military service or a job: A period of time when someone is officially permitted to be absent from their duties, often with the intention of returning.
   • A temporary layoff from work: A period of enforced unpaid leave, often due to economic conditions.

2. Verb:

   • To grant a temporary leave of absence: To officially allow someone, such as a soldier, prisoner, or employee, to be absent for a specific period.
   • To dismiss or lay off temporarily, usually for economic reasons: To suspend someone from work without pay, typically due to a lack of work or financial constraints.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The soldier was granted a two-week furlough to visit his family.
  • Many employees were placed on furlough during the economic downturn.

• Verb:

  • The company will furlough 50 workers next month due to budget cuts.
  • The prisoner was furloughed for three days to attend a funeral.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on furlough": to be in a state of temporary leave.

  • Half the staff is on furlough until business improves.

• "furlough period": the specific duration of a temporary leave or layoff.

  • The furlough period is expected to last six months.

Variants and Related Words

• Furloughed (adj): Describing someone who has been granted a furlough.
  • Furloughed workers may be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Synonyms

• Noun: Leave, sabbatical, layoff, hiatus.
• Verb: Lay off, suspend, grant leave.

Related Phrases

• Administrative furlough: A planned event by an agency designed to absorb reductions necessitated by downsizing, reduced funding, or other budget constraints.
• Furlough scheme: An official program, often government-run, where employers can furlough employees while the government provides partial wage support.

Noun

1. a temporary leave of absence from military duty

Verb

1. grant a leave to
   • The prisoner was furloughed for the weekend to visit her children
2. dismiss, usually for economic reasons
   • She was laid off together with hundreds of other workers when the company downsized