What does furlough mean?
A furlough is a temporary release from work or duty, historically granted to soldiers but now best known as an employment measure in which workers are suspended without pay yet remain officially employed, with the understanding that they will return. The word originated in seventeenth-century military usage, borrowed from Dutch, and long referred to servicemen's periods of authorized leave. In modern labour contexts, employers use furloughs to cut costs during downturns without resorting to permanent layoffs, preserving both jobs for workers and trained staff for companies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, government-backed furlough schemes made the term a household word across Britain and beyond. Unlike a layoff, which severs employment entirely, a furlough carries an implicit promise of return, though not always a guaranteed one, making it a word associated with uncertainty, patience, and hope.
A leave of absence from duty, especially for a soldier; more broadly, a temporary suspension of employment or work, typically without pay.
"She spent her two-week army furlough visiting family in Ohio."
In military contexts the term retains its traditional sense of granted leave; in business it refers to temporary, often involuntary, unpaid time off.
To grant a furlough to; to suspend (an employee) from work temporarily, usually without pay.
"The company furloughed nearly half its staff during the shutdown."
Standard plural; used both for multiple instances of leave and for groups of people on furlough collectively.
"The budget cuts resulted in rolling furloughs across every department."
Furlough comes from a Dutch word meaning 'permission to leave' — the same Germanic root that gave English 'beloved', because being allowed to go was once literally a gift of love.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of furlough
Furlough derives from the Dutch word 'verloof', meaning 'leave' or 'permission', itself rooted in the Germanic element 'lēof/lief', meaning 'dear' or 'beloved'. It was adopted into English in the early seventeenth century, when transatlantic trade brought British merchants into frequent contact with the Dutch, whose language supplied numerous maritime and commercial terms. Its earliest recorded English uses were military, referring to leave granted to soldiers, before expanding in later centuries into civilian employment practice.
Related word forms
How furlough is actually used
Originally military vocabulary, the word entered mainstream use during economic downturns — notably the COVID-19 pandemic, when government-supported 'furlough schemes' kept workers formally employed while idle. A furlough implies the job will resume; it is not a dismissal.
Easily confused with furlough
A layoff permanently ends employment, whereas a furlough is temporary and the employee usually retains their job and benefits.