furlough

UK: /ˈfɜː^rləʊ/ US: /ˈfɝloʊ/ ,(fûr′lō)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fur•lough /ˈfɜrloʊ/   n. [countable]

1. Military a leave of absence granted to a person in military service;
   leave:
   a two-week furlough.
2. a usually temporary layoff from work.
3. a temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a prison.
4. on furlough, granted permission to be temporarily absent from service, work, or prison.

v. [~ + object]

5. to give a furlough to.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fur•lough  (fûr′lō), n. 

1. Military a vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.
2. a usually temporary layoff from work:
   Many plant workers have been forced to go on furlough.
3. a temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a penitentiary.

v.t. 

4. to grant a furlough to.
5. to lay (an employee or worker) off from work, usually temporarily.

• Dutch verlof leave, permission; current pronunciation by association with dough, etc.
• variant of earlier furlogh, furloff 1615–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

furlough / ˈfɜːləʊ/ noun

1. leave of absence, esp from military duty

verb (transitive)

1. to grant a furlough to

Etymology: 17th Century: from Dutch verlof, from ver- for- + lof leave, permission; related to Swedish förlof