holdout
holdout Lexical Profile
holdout Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person, group, or entity that refuses to accept an agreement, join a consensus, or yield to pressure, especially when others have already complied.
"The small bookstore remained the final holdout against the commercial redevelopment of the historic block."
North American A professional athlete who refuses to report to training camp or play until preferable contract terms are negotiated, or the period of such a refusal.
"The star quarterback ended his three-week holdout after management agreed to guarantee the final two years of his contract."
Something that is retained, withheld, or kept back for later use or secret advantage, such as a playing card concealed by a gambler.
"The investigator discovered that the witness had a crucial document as a holdout to use as leverage."
Word Nuance & Usage
The closed noun "holdout" refers to a person who refuses to yield or an act of resisting, whereas the open two-word phrase "hold out" functions as the phrasal verb meaning to endure or refuse to give in.
• Rhymes for holdout
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in late 19th-century American English as a nominal compound from the phrasal verb "hold out" (meaning to endure or resist pressure), originally popularized in card-playing slang for a card secretly kept back and in professional sports for a player refusing to sign a contract.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.