furlough

/ˌfʌrˈloʊ/

/ˈfʌləʊ/

Other forms: furloughs; furloughed; furloughing

Furlough started as a word for time off from military duty. It spread from there to other types of time off, including an employer furloughing (or laying off) employees.

If you're in the military — a pretty tough job — you're probably looking forward to a furlough. That's a leave of absence or bit of time off, kind of like a break or vacation. That kind of a furlough is a great chance for some rest and relaxation. Outside the military, to furlough still means to grant a leave of absence to someone, but often it's a permanent vacation: if your boss furloughed you, he fired you.

Definitions of furlough

1. noun

   a temporary leave of absence, especially from military duty
   type of:

   leave, leave of absence

   the period of time during which you are absent from work or duty
2. verb

   grant a leave to
   “The prisoner was furloughed for the weekend to visit her children”

   type of:

   allow, countenance, let, permit

   consent to, give permission
3. verb

   dismiss from work, usually for economic reasons
   synonyms: lay off

   types:

   downsize

   dismiss from work

   type of:

   can, dismiss, displace, fire, force out, give notice, give the axe, give the sack, sack, send away, terminate

   terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position