Definition

Noun: 1. An act of leaving a meeting, venue, or organization as an expression of protest or disapproval. It is a deliberate, collective action intended to show strong objection. 2. A strike in which workers leave their workplace. This is a specific type of industrial action where employees stop work and leave the premises.

Usage

The word "walkout" describes a formal protest action. It is most commonly used in contexts of labor disputes, political meetings, formal assemblies, or negotiations. - It is typically a planned, coordinated group action, not an individual act. - It implies a public demonstration of dissent or a breakdown in negotiations.

Examples

1. As a protest action:

   • The delegates staged a walkout during the debate on the controversial policy.
   • The senator's offensive comments prompted an immediate walkout from the chamber.

2. As a strike action:

   • The union called for a walkout after the latest contract offer was rejected.
   • The 24-hour walkout halted production at the factory.

Advanced Usage

• "to stage a walkout": To organize and carry out a walkout. This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and theatrical nature of the protest.
  • The students staged a walkout to demand action on climate change.
• "to lead a walkout": To be the person or group initiating the action.
  • The senior researcher led the walkout from the conference.

Variants and Related Words

• Walk out (phrasal verb): The action from which the noun is derived.
  • The workers decided to walk out.
• Strike (n): A broader term for a work stoppage, which can include sit-down strikes; a walkout is a specific type of strike.
• Boycott (n): A refusal to participate or buy, which is related but distinct from physically leaving.

Synonyms

• Strike (specifically for the labor sense)
• Protest departure
• Walk-out (alternative hyphenated spelling)

Phrasal Verbs Related

• Walk out (on) [someone/something]: To abandon or leave suddenly, often in anger or protest. This is the verb form that creates the noun "walkout."
  • He walked out of the meeting in disgust.
  • The actors walked out on the director.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Stage a walkout: As mentioned in Advanced Usage, this is a common collocation for organizing this type of protest.
• Mass walkout: Emphasizes that a very large number of people participated.
  • The announcement resulted in a mass walkout of employees.

Noun

1. the act of walking out (of a meeting or organization) as a sign of protest
   • there was a walkout by the Black members as the chairman rose to speak
2. a strike in which the workers walk out