laid off

USAGE SUMMARY

"laid off" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it when someone has lost their job, either temporarily or permanently. For example, "Seventy workers were laid off from the factory last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Everybody's been laid off.

The New Yorker

"They laid off journalists.

The New York Times

Workers were laid off.

The New York Times

You have been laid off.

The New Yorker

Ultimately, she was laid off.

The New York Times - Tech

No one was laid off.

The New York Times

Getting laid off is awful.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Laid-off workers getting extended unemployment benefits.

The New York Times

See Also: Advice For Laid-Off Engineers.

Forbes

Try smiling while being laid-off.

Forbes

(Male resident patient, a laid-off worker).

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "laid off" to describe situations where the job loss is due to economic conditions or restructuring, not individual performance. For performance-related dismissals, use terms like "fired" or "terminated".

Common error

Don't use "laid off" when an employee is terminated for poor performance or misconduct. "Laid off" specifically refers to job loss due to company-wide issues such as downsizing or economic downturns. Using it incorrectly can misrepresent the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laid off" primarily functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that someone has been involuntarily terminated from their job due to reasons unrelated to their performance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "laid off" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe involuntary job loss due to factors like economic downturns or company restructuring. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It's most frequently encountered in news and business contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various audiences. When using the term, it's important to distinguish it from "fired", which implies termination due to individual performance. Related phrases include "made redundant" and "let go". Remember to provide context and avoid misrepresenting the reason for job loss when using this phrase. "Laid off" accurately communicates that the individual was not at fault, and that the company was going through hardship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

let go from the company

A more euphemistic and common expression for being dismissed.

made redundant

Emphasizes the role has become unnecessary, often due to restructuring.

terminated from employment

A more formal and direct way of stating job dismissal.

downsized out of a job

Highlights the company's reduction in size as the reason for job loss.

position eliminated

Focuses on the role itself being removed, rather than the individual's performance.

job eliminated

Similar to “position eliminated”, this option focuses on the elimination of the job rather than the employee.

workforce reduction

Describes the process of reducing personnel within a company or organization.

involuntarily separated from employment

A formal way to say someone lost their job against their will.

released from employment

A soft way of expressing the termination of employment, suggesting a mutual agreement or lack of fault.

discharged from employment

A more formal expression, sometimes implying termination but can also mean release.

FAQs

How is "laid off" different from "fired"?

"Laid off" indicates job loss due to company circumstances like restructuring or economic downturns, while "fired" implies termination for individual performance or misconduct. They are not interchangeable.

What are some alternatives to saying "laid off"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "made redundant", "let go", or "position eliminated".

Is "laid off" a temporary or permanent situation?

"Laid off" can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the company's circumstances. It generally implies a possibility of being rehired if the company's situation improves, but there's no guarantee.

How to use "laid off" in a sentence?

Example: "Due to the economic downturn, the company "laid off" 10% of its workforce."