Lock-in

Full definition of lock-in

Noun

1. Alternative spelling of lock in
2. (British) An illegal but widely-tolerated invitation-only gathering in a British pub, after the end of licensing hours, to allow regular customers the opportunity to enjoy further drinking time.
• 2009, Annette J. Dunlea, Always and Forever (page 53)He was a lunatic drunk and started sing songs that lasted into the early hours of the morning and resulted in many weekend lock-ins in the village pub.
3. (legal) A situation in which members of an industry have agreed to adopt a certain standard and have retooled their production to meet this standard, thus making it very costly to change to a different standard.