Walkout vs. Walk Out
“Walkout” is a closed noun in Cambridge, with hyphenated “walk-out” documented in Business English. “Walk out” is the two-word phrasal verb for leaving in protest, ending a relationship, or stopping work.
Use “walkout” as the usual closed noun for an act of leaving in protest or stopping work; Cambridge Business English also records “walk-out.” Use “walk out” as the phrasal verb.
Key details
Choose the right form
| If you mean / need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| an act of leaving in protest or stopping work | walkout | Cambridge records the closed noun. |
| a documented Business English noun variant | walk-out | Cambridge documents the hyphenated form. |
| the verb action of leaving or stopping work | walk out | Cambridge records the phrasal verb as two words. |
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the documented noun or modifier form when naming a thing, result, event, 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 records closed “walkout” as a noun, documents “walk-out” as a Business English noun variant, and records “walk out” as the phrasal verb.
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.
- WALKOUT — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Closed noun “walkout” and documented Business English “walk-out” variant
- WALK OUT — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Two-word phrasal verb “walk out”