Definition

Noun: 1. A strict security measure confining people to a place: An official order or situation requiring people to stay inside a building, room, or defined area, typically for safety, security, or public health reasons. This can involve restricting entry and exit. 2. A state of isolation or restricted access: The condition resulting from such an order, where normal activity is severely limited.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The prison was placed under lockdown after the disturbance.
  • During the pandemic, the government announced a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus.
  • The school initiated an emergency lockdown when an intruder was reported on campus.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in lockdown" / "to go into lockdown": To be in or to enter a state of lockdown.
  • The entire building is in lockdown until the police complete their search.
  • The city went into a strict lockdown for two weeks.
• "to impose a lockdown" / "to order a lockdown": To officially enforce a lockdown.
  • The authorities imposed a lockdown on the affected neighborhood.

Variants and Related Words

• Lock down (phrasal verb): The action of implementing a lockdown.
  • The warden decided to lock down the facility.

Synonyms

• Confinement
• Isolation
• Quarantine (specifically for disease)
• Siege (military context)
• Shutdown (of institutions or businesses)

Related Phrases

• "under lockdown": Experiencing a lockdown.
  • The research lab is under lockdown for a security audit.
• "lockdown drills": Practice exercises for a lockdown procedure, common in schools.
  • Students participated in a lockdown drill this morning.

Noun

1. the act of confining prisoners to their cells (usually to regain control during a riot)