lockup

Lockup is a term with several distinct meanings across different fields.

In law enforcement and corrections, a lockup refers to a temporary holding facility, typically a small cell within a police station or jail used to detain suspects before processing or arraignment. Lockups are designed for short-term confinement, often limited to 24 to 48 hours, and are subject to legal rights and safety standards for detainees.

In finance, a lock-up is a contractual restriction on the sale of shares following an initial public offering or other financing event. During the lock-up period, insiders, employees, or large holders are prohibited from selling, to help stabilize the stock price. Lock-up periods commonly last 90 to 180 days, but can vary. When the period ends, shares may become eligible for sale in a process known as unlocking.

In branding and publishing, a lockup describes a fixed arrangement of brand elements (such as a logo with a tagline) presented together as a single unit. Lockups are used in marketing materials, packaging, and signage and are governed by brand guidelines to ensure consistent appearance.

In technology and engineering, lockup can refer to a system or component becoming unresponsive or to a mechanism that physically couples two parts, such as a torque converter lockup that temporarily engages a transmission clutch to reduce slipping.