Layoff vs. Lay Off
“Layoff” is the standard closed noun in Cambridge, with “lay-off” also documented as a noun variant. “Lay off” is the two-word phrasal verb, including the employment sense.
Use “layoff” for the noun; Cambridge also records the noun variant “lay-off.” Use “lay off” as the verb, especially for ending someone’s employment because work is unavailable.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| noun: loss/suspension of employment | layoff / lay-off | Use the closed noun; the hyphenated noun variant is also documented. |
| verb: end employment because work is unavailable | lay off | Use two words for the phrasal verb. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the expression a noun naming the employment event?
If yes: Use “layoff” (or documented noun variant “lay-off” if required by style).
If no: If it is the verb, use “lay off.”
Caveat: This guide covers the employment sense; “lay off” also has other idiomatic uses in broader English.
Examples
The plant announced a temporary layoff.
The noun is normally one word.
The company may lay off thirty workers.
The verb is two words.
The source uses the noun spelling “lay-off.”
The hyphenated noun is a documented variant.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the documented noun or modifier form when naming a thing, result, person, or concept; use the spaced form when the words function as a verb.
Fast Test
If the expression can take ordinary verb tense or inflection in the sentence, the spaced verb form is usually the relevant choice.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge documents both “layoff” and the noun variant “lay-off,” while the phrasal verb remains “lay off.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- LAYOFF — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Noun “layoff”, with documented “lay-off” variant
- LAY SOMEONE OFF — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Two-word phrasal verb “lay off”