Meaning & use
furlough
Last updated
A temporary leave of absence from work or duty, often unpaid, granted by an employer or the military.
See it in a sentence
The soldiers were granted a two-week furlough to visit their families.
During the shutdown, thousands of federal employees were placed on furlough.
A note on using this word
Unlike a layoff, a furlough is usually temporary, with the expectation that the worker will return to their job.
Words with a similar meaning
leavelayoff
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To place an employee on a temporary, unpaid leave of absence.
The company furloughed half its staff during the slow season.
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